The free-to-play model of Overwatch relies on a clear system of rewards, but players have consistently voiced frustration over the slow pace of earning Overwatch Coins—the primary currency used for purchasing items directly from the in-game shop. Acquiring desirable legendary skins or bundles often felt like a prohibitively long grind for dedicated, non-spending players.

Blizzard has responded directly to this feedback with a major adjustment: significantly increasing the number of Coins awarded through the completion of weekly and, in some cases, daily challenges.

The Change: More Coins, Faster Acquisitions

This economic shift is designed to make the accumulation of currency feel faster and more rewarding for engaged players:

  • Increased Weekly Payouts: The total number of Overwatch Coins awarded for completing the full set of weekly challenges has been substantially boosted (e.g., the total cap increased from 60 to 80, or similar increment). This ensures that consistent weekly play yields a more meaningful return.
  • Daily Bonus Adjustment: Certain daily challenges now offer a small bonus amount of Overwatch Coins, rewarding players for logging in and completing simple objectives every day, further accelerating the accumulation process.
  • Cosmetic Accessibility: The intention is to make high-value cosmetic items, such as new Legendary skins that cost around 1,900 Coins, more accessible over the span of a season. Players can now reach that price point in fewer weeks of dedicated play.

This change reduces the friction between player effort and in-game reward.

Player and Community Impact

The impact of this update goes beyond the numbers, affecting player engagement and perception:

  1. Addressing Core Frustration: This move is viewed by the community as a direct and positive acknowledgement of their complaints regarding the previously punitive monetization structure. It increases player goodwill and encourages continued engagement.
  2. Encouraging Daily Logins: By increasing the rewards from challenges, Blizzard reinforces the daily and weekly cadence of play. Players now have a stronger financial incentive to log in regularly and complete the objectives.
  3. No Change to Shop Prices: Crucially, the prices of items in the shop have remained stable. The currency buff means the purchasing power of the dedicated player has increased without devaluing the currency itself.

This economy update successfully makes the path to earning premium cosmetics more transparent and attainable, rewarding player loyalty with increased earning potential.