Hey, everyone! Season 18 is right around the corner and it’s an exciting time for us on the game design team. Some long-term projects are finally coming to fruition and we’re psyched for you to try them out!
One of our passion projects has been reworking and revamping the progression system to be more refined, understandable, and engaging for new Overwatch fans as well as those of you who have been here since the beginning. We’ve been refining a feature Team 4 has been calling “Progression 2.0” for about six months and we can’t wait for you to dive in.
Welcome to Progression 2.0
Through feedback and data analysis, we know how much you enjoy being able to show off dedication to your favorite Heroes!
If you’re a veteran player, you may remember the original Overwatch progression system that emphasized overall time played. Thanks to community feedback, we created a system for Overwatch 2 that instead focuses on Hero-based progression levels. This was a step in the right direction, but we’ve noticed that the system feels unnecessarily complex and wasn’t resonating correctly. It was a fine system, but we wanted to give you something great.
Hence, Progression 2.0: the result of a lot of collaboration from folks across Team 4, from systems design to the art team. It’s a fully streamlined system with better rewards, completely overhauled visuals, and easier methods to keep track of your progress.
For every 20 levels of Hero progression—which you’ll gain playing a Hero in any mode except Custom Games, just as it has been since Overwatch 2 launched—you’ll earn a new Ascended portrait border that automatically applies when you play that Hero in a match. These borders start out basic but gain complexity and electric energy as you level up your favorite Heroes, culminating in fiery flair at level 60 that lets everyone know this definitely isn’t your first round of Quick Play.
Ascended borders are visual bragging rights that can only be earned by putting time and effort into a Hero. Any earned border will shimmer for your allies on the Hero Select screen as well as on the Kill Cam for the enemy team to see.
These cards serve two main purposes. One, it’s an easy way to show off your most-played Heroes and brag about your levels. And two, we believe the information shown on these cards will allow you to build a better team composition under the time constraints of Hero Select.
You’ll also earn Badges between Ascended checkpoints. These may look vaguely familiar; you’ve had badges on your Career Profile for a while. We’ve reworked the badges to show less granular changes and flaunt larger ones in a recognizable color scheme: the classic system of color graded items, from common gray to golden legendary. Badges appear under your portrait in Hero Select for even more bonus bragging rights.
Now Playing In 3D
While a new border and badge system are nice, we also understand that many of you are here for the loot. Better rewards are a cornerstone of the Progression 2.0 system, and we developed a more intuitive place to see your progress and actually use the items you’ve earned.
Previously, rewards earned through Hero progression were mixed into the cosmetic section they belonged to; most players only used those rewards if they could find them. The brand-new Progression 2.0 Hero screen is a multi-functional page with 3D models, progression tracking, and an easy-to-navigate rewards list.
For all your hard work, you’ll earn Epic and Legendary Loot Boxes at certain milestones while leveling up your Heroes. Hero-specific items earned while leveling, like name cards or titles, can also be equipped with a single click. No more hunting for a newly-earned profile icon in a sea of Pachimaris!
The best part? These levels are awarded retroactively and reflect your experience in Overwatch 2 thus far. Let’s say you’re a Baptiste fan and you’ve already put in enough time to get him to level 50. You’ll already have every reward—Ascended borders, badges, cosmetics, and Loot Boxes—up to level 50. This applies to every Hero in the game, too. If you’re a veteran player, get ready to open a lot of sparkly presents!
Cosmetic Starter Kits
Though the Progression 2.0 system will be fun for longtime players, it’s especially important for those of you who are new to Overwatch or new to playing a Hero outside of your usual suspects. Everyone has to start somewhere, and we realized how unfun it was being the only person in the match lobby without a cute outfit or fun player icon for your favorite Heroes.
So we’re giving a warm welcome to players answering the Overwatch call. For the first 20 levels of Hero progression, you’ll earn Hero-specific cosmetics and Overwatch credits to kickstart your cosmetic collection. There’s also a bit of an experience curve up to level 20, making earlier cosmetics (and levels) easier to earn. (For the statistics nerds out there, this curve flattens at level 20 to a standard amount of time played.)
Since the items are easily available to earn by leveling up Heroes, we’ve taken them out of the Hero Gallery and they won’t be purchasable with credits. Those of you who have already earned the cosmetics will be granted credits equivalent to the value of those rewards shortly before Season 18 launches. Use them to unlock something else you’ve been saving up for!
To The OGs
Change can be hard, so we wanted to take the time to clear up some anticipated concerns, especially for veteran and high-level players who worry about how the new system will affect their gameplay.
Shielding your top Heroes can be important in Competitive mode, so rest assured that enemy teams will not be able to see your player cards or Ascended borders until well after the game begins. Ascended borders operate on the same system that shields your Hero picks for 10-15 seconds after a match begins. Enemy teams will not be able to see your full player cards until after you’ve eliminated them or they eliminate you. Player cards will be shown on the side of the kill cam, but it’ll be a toggleable option if that isn’t your thing.
Your teammates, however, will be able to see your full player card once Hero Select begins. Player cards can be shielded with Streamer Mode, but this feature is only available for those who have completed the Tenacious Hero challenge, which requires winning 750 games in any mode. A streamer’s most-played Heroes will be hidden from view, but their Ascended border will still be visible to everyone. Our goal is to help streamers and content creators avoid being pigeonholed into Hero picks.
We hope you enjoy the new Progression 2.0 system, and we look forward to seeing how high you can climb up the progression ladder with your favorite Heroes!