Unlocking Overwatch 2's Mythic Skins: The Issue of Inconsistency in Season 7

Every Overwatch 2 in-game season brings with it a unique theme, and the highly-anticipated Season 7 is no exception, diving deep into a Halloween vibe for October and November. These seasons typically introduce fresh content and, as a tradition, unveil a brand-new mythic skin for a fortunate hero.

Mythic skins are renowned for their rarity and uniqueness in the Overwatch 2 cosmetics realm. They are coveted rewards, obtainable by players who invest in the premium battle pass of a specific season. These skins derive much of their value from the multitude of customization options they offer. However, Season 7's upcoming mythic skin for Hanzo exemplifies an issue that has been brewing within the realm of mythic skins.

The Issue with Overwatch 2's Season 7 Hanzo Mythic Skin

Season 7 of Overwatch 2 is scheduled to kick off on October 10, and dedicated players are gearing up to grind through the season's battle pass in pursuit of its coveted mythic skin. This season's mythic skin, known as "Onryo Hanzo", draws inspiration from Japanese culture, where an "Onryo" represents a vengeful spirit haunting the living world due to unresolved pain or wrongdoing in its past life.

Onryo Hanzo, the mythic skin, becomes accessible at tier 80 of Season 7's battle pass, transforming the DPS hero into a radiant, ghostly apparition. The skin brings along unique firing sounds and voice lines for Hanzo, embracing the eerie and supernatural theme of the Onryo and Season 7 as a whole. However, the skin's customization options, as observed so far, seem to be limited to a handful of different bows and three color variations for Hanzo, allowing players to choose between shades of blue, orange, or gray.

These alternate color schemes also affect Hanzo's bow, with weapon customization traditionally being a significant attraction for mythic skins. Nevertheless, many fans have noticed a glaring inconsistency in the level of customization provided by different mythic skins in Overwatch 2. For instance, the mythic skin from the previous season was dedicated to the support hero Ana and featured two weapon choices, three distinct armor variants, and three different overall color schemes.

Season 5's mythic Tracer skin followed a similar pattern, although the base skin unlocked at battle pass tier 45, with additional customization options becoming available later on. While there's potential for Hanzo to have customization options such as tattoos, hairstyle changes, and armor alterations, the skin's trailer predominantly emphasizes the three color variant choices. While it's possible that more customization features will be revealed in the coming days, a significant issue arises if Hanzo's options are indeed limited to general color personalization alongside restricted weapon choices.

Many players invest in battle passes primarily for the coveted mythic skins, and the growing disparity in the depth of customization options across mythic skins is becoming a concern from a consumer perspective. Given that all mythic skins are offered at the same price as part of the premium battle pass, fans expect a consistent level of customization across each season. Every hero is more than capable of offering the same extent of customization options as Ana, so there's no apparent reason for Hanzo to potentially receive fewer options.

In summary, mythic skins serve as rewarding incentives for consistent play during a specific Overwatch 2 season. However, there is a pressing need to ensure that players receive equivalent value for their investment in each season's battle pass, addressing the current disparity in customization depth among mythic skins.