How Overwatch Should Move Away From Loot Boxes

I keep telling myself that Overwatch's loot boxes are not that bad. I'm a fool for believing this. From the viewpoint of maintaining the integrity of the game, I'm not wrong: Overwatch's loot boxes aren't pay to win. The items they contain are purely cosmetic, and don't enhance player abilities or throw off the balance of competition in the slightest.

Is Overwatch a shining example of how loot boxes should be handled? Sure. Well, kind of. For fans who play Overwatch religiously like I do, and want to unlock the coolest items and skins for beloved heroes, the boxes seep a different kind of evil than pay to win. This form of evil is tied to a timer. When a new event like the holiday themed Winter Wonderland rolls around, you only have a certain number of days to unlock the exclusive items contained in the boxes. If you miss your chance, the items are no longer available. You end up feeling the pressure to either play more or pay more to get these desired boxes. Maybe I'm crazy in thinking this, but a game shouldn't make you feel guilty for not investing more time or spending more money in it. I know the money earned from the loot boxes supposedly funds the development of the free DLC, but that doesn't mean it has to make the player feel like they are missing out on something.

Overwatch's Ana Bastet Challenge shows us a way that Blizzard could alleviate the pressure players feel. I didn't think much of this challenge at first, but it is an efficient delivery method of goods that allows players to play the game the way they want to. The Bastet Challenge pushes the player to win nine games in any mode. When three victories are notched, a unique player icon is unlocked. At six victories, the player earns a new victory pose for Ana. If nine wins are tallied, the player can equip Ana with the epic Bastet skin. Yes, the pressure of having to do it within a set number of days is still there, but at least the player knows exactly what they are getting. There is not random chance of getting duplicates or things for heroes they never use.

Picture challenges like this being spread all across the game, rewarding players for performing well. New skins could be tied to the amount of healing done in a single match or lifetime, and even better yet, being a great teammate who gets accommodations from other players. Blizzard could have dozens of these things running at once, allowing players to earn items they want by playing the game. The loot boxes could still remain as an alternative that allows players to take a chance to get them. The items tied to challenges could rotate weekly or monthly to keep players coming back.

When the Bastet Challenge ends on January 21, I hope another one replaces it. It was a small event, but it showed me how Overwatch could make its loot boxes less of a pain in the ass. Perhaps that's the best way to describe them. They aren't pure evil, but they are a pain in the ass.