The 2026 update and new look for Overwatch is one of the biggest improvements the game has seen since it first became Overwatch 2. Along with five new playable characters, the update also refreshed game modes like Stadium and added more specific roles within each hero’s skillset. These changes have brought a huge wave of players back to the game, including many who haven’t played in years.
If you haven’t played Overwatch recently, you’ll find some improvements. The main menu has a cleaner, updated look, and it’s now easier to unlock and track new character customizations without annoying pop-ups. Plus, if you’re returning after Overwatch 2 launched, Loot Boxes are back, meaning you might have a lot of free rewards waiting for you!
Overwatch Loot Boxes Are Now One of The Game’s Best Features
When Overwatch was first released in 2016, a major point of discussion was how players got new items like skins and sprays – primarily through Loot Boxes. Some felt it was odd that a game you paid for included elements typically found in free-to-play games, even though you could earn some Loot Boxes without spending extra money. Later, when Overwatch 2 became free-to-play and replaced Loot Boxes with a Battle Pass and in-game Shop, some players actually missed the old system, as the Battle Pass offered fewer ways for players to earn cosmetics without paying.
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Overwatch Has Been Generous with Free Loot Boxes Since the Reign of Talon Season 1 Relaunch
Loot Boxes came back to Overwatch in Season 15, about a year ago in 2025. When they returned, players could get cosmetic items both from the Battle Pass and from free Loot Boxes. The Loot Box system has also been updated: players can now earn 3 Loot Boxes each week simply by playing, and even more are available through events and the Battle Pass.
Every Way to Get Loot Boxes in Overwatch Right Now
- Completing matches each week — 3 Common Loot Boxes
- Participating in the Talon vs. Overwatch Conquest Event — 6 Common, 1 Epic Loot Boxes
- Twitch Drops (Until March 9) — 8 Common, 2 Legendary Loot Boxes
- Hero Progression Level Ups — 1 Common at Level 5, 3 Epics at Levels 25, 35, and 45, 3 Legendary at Levels 30, 40, and 50
- Year of the Horse Limited Time Event (Until March 3) — 2 Common, 1 Epic Loot Boxes
- Premium Battle Pass — 3 Legendary Loot Boxes
The new season of Overwatch, Reign of Talon, gives players a chance to earn free cosmetic items through Loot Boxes. You can easily get a few each week just by playing matches – earning 3 Common Loot Boxes for every 27 games played. You can also unlock Loot Boxes by leveling up your favorite heroes using the Hero Progression system. Playing with a single hero enough will reward you with 1 Common, 3 Epic, and 3 Legendary Loot Boxes.
Right now, you can earn free Loot Boxes by participating in two in-game events: Year of the Horse and Talon vs. Overwatch Conquest. If you choose a side in the Talon vs. Overwatch event and finish the challenges, you’ll receive 6 Common and 1 Epic Loot Box. Completing the Year of the Horse event challenges will get you 2 Common and 1 Epic Loot Box.
During the Talon vs. Overwatch event, players can earn rewards from both sides by completing challenges for one faction, then switching to the other and repeating the process. This allows them to get a total of 12 Common Loot Boxes and 2 Epic Loot Boxes.
You can get some Loot Boxes in Overwatch without actually playing the game. For a limited time, watching Overwatch streams on Twitch will reward you with 8 Common and 2 Legendary Loot Boxes, depending on how long you watch. Additionally, the Premium Battle Pass for the Reign of Talon Season 1 includes 3 Legendary Loot Boxes, but you’ll need to purchase the pass to get them.
Even Free-To-Play Overwatch Players Can Access Shop Items Via Loot Boxes
It’s now much easier to get the cosmetic items you want from Overwatch Loot Boxes. Recent changes guarantee an Epic item from Epic Loot Boxes and a Legendary item from Legendary Loot Boxes. Plus, even regular Common Loot Boxes will reward you with an Epic skin after opening five boxes in a row, and a Legendary skin after 20 boxes without getting one.
Image via Blizzard Loot Boxes are now much better at avoiding giving players cosmetic items they already have. If you do get a duplicate, it helps you earn another free Loot Box. Plus, skins that used to only be available in the Overwatch Shop can now be found in Loot Boxes, giving players a second chance to get them without paying. These changes make it easier for all players, especially those who don’t spend money on the game, to collect new cosmetics, and returning Overwatch players should definitely take advantage of them.
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2026-02-16 13:04