The game director of Overwatch explains why Blizzard gets away with its loot boxes while other developers fail.
The major scandal topic in the gaming sector in 2017 is loot boxes. The discussions about them have escalated increasingly throughout 2017 until they have almost exploded. But why does everyone complain about loot boxes in Star Wars: Battlefront 2 while there is no outcry against Blizzard?
After all, Overwatch is also a full-price title that still entices with loot boxes.
Loot boxes must be for players, not against them
In an interview with PCGamesN, Game Director Jeff Kaplan revealed why loot boxes are accepted in Overwatch and what core philosophies developers should consider if they want their players to accept loot boxes.
- The system must meet the wishes of the players. This means: No power increases through items in the loot boxes, only pure cosmetics.
- All items in loot boxes must also be available in some way without luck. This way, even players without luck can save for a particularly desirable skin. That’s why there is the credit system.
- Developers must constantly listen to feedback and make adjustments. For example, Overwatch has drastically reduced the number of duplicates in loot boxes, which has increased player satisfaction.
Cortyn says: In addition to the points mentioned by Kaplan, loot boxes in Overwatch are relatively generously awarded. Only about an hour of gameplay is needed, which usually corresponds to 3-4 matches. In the arcade, it goes even faster when trying out new game modes or during the weekly reset.
I don’t believe that the argument “Blizzard’s players are zombies who endorse everything” really applies here. Compared to other loot box systems, it seems more like a “game mechanic implemented into the game” rather than “cut-out” content that is deliberately made difficult for players to access in order to reach for their wallets.
What do you think of the loot boxes in Overwatch? Are they fairer than in other games? Or is it “just the same rip-off” as in other games?
More on the topic:
Why are loot boxes in Overwatch okay, Blizzard?
Your opinion is important to us!
Do you like the article? Then let us know!