Despite progress in making other parts of the game less predatory by removing loot boxes, Activision Blizzard has somehow made Overwatch 2's closed beta into a cash grab, putting beta access behind a paywall. Before the beta began, players only had to opt-in to get a chance to be selected to play the Overwatch 2 beta. However, now that the beta has begun, that option is gone, and players have to go the paid route if they want to get into the beta.
Overwatch 2 has been in a few beta builds throughout the year, but the latest started on June 28. The shooter's multiplayer betas have been met with mixed reactions, with criticisms citing the game feeling too similar to the original and disdain for the new 5v5 format of Overwatch 2. Some fans of the first game still seem to be optimistic about the game's early access release in October. But for any players who wanted to play early via the closed beta, they may be out of luck unless they want to pay.
Access to Overwatch 2's closed beta now requires the purchase of the Watchpoint Pack. The Watchpoint Pack is a $40 cosmetic package that includes two skins, the first season's battle , 2,000 of the game's new Virtual Currency, and other small cosmetics. This pack won't be worth it for most Overwatch players, but locking beta access behind it may get some players curious about Overwatch 2 to purchase it anyways.
Locking Overwatch 2 Beta Access Behind A $40 Cosmetic Package Is A Blatant Cash Grab
With games like this year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta, Activision is no stranger to locking beta access for multiplayer games behind paywalls. The entire Call of Duty series frequently requires players to pre-order the next installment to gain access to a beta build of the game. This is still a predatory practice, but it feels worse in the case of Overwatch 2. According to the Overwatch 2 beta page's FAQ:
The new opt-in web form is now available on PlayOverwatch.com/beta is [sic] slated to stay open until June 28 unless we hit our projected maximum server capacity earlier. We’ll select a small group of players when the beta goes live on June 28 at 11:00 AM PDT and will steadily add more players over time as we ramp up capacity, with the first waves of larger access grants planned to begin on July 5.
Our goal is to provide access to ALL players that opt-in to the beta by no later than July 14.
This seems to indicate that anyone who did make it in before the June 28 deadline could still be pulled for beta access by July 14, but this doesn't change anything for anyone who missed the deadline. As of now, the Overwatch 2 Watchpoint Pack preorder requirement is the only way in. This kind of for-profit beta access stings a bit more than Call of Duty's preorder practice, and Overwatch 2 being free-to-play is a major reason why. With Call of Duty games, dedicated fans likely preorder the game anyway, as they'll need to buy the game to play it. However, since the Overwatch sequel made the move to launch free-to-play, the Watchpoint Pack is far from necessary and makes it a pain to purchase just for beta access. In addition, players could previously get Overwatch 2 beta access by watching the game on livestreams, an incentive that is not present for the summer beta.
Unfortunately, Overwatch 2's latest beta has become a cash grab for Activision Blizzard. Using Call of Duty beta pre-order tactics, but for a free-to-play game's cosmetic pack is quite a predatory-feeling tactic. No matter how bad they want to play, fans who missed the opt-in period for the current Overwatch 2 beta can avoid purchasing the Watchpoint Pack if they're patient, and instead wait for the game's early access launch on October 4.
Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.
