After finally redeeming itself in 2025, Overwatch 2 just made a huge mistake

It took time Overwatch 2 to redeem itself and justify its existence, but thanks to hard work and consistent updates from Aaron Keller and Team 4, the game in 2025 has done just that. Progression 2.0 and earnable loot boxes are a great incentive to keep playing outside of battle passes, while core gameplay has been improved through the perk system. Overwatch 2A lore codex has recently been added, a useful tool for lore lovers, while the stadium has been given new life Overwatch 2 and for the first time in years, the franchise actually felt new. It's a little odd for such a hot streak Overwatch 2 ended 2025 (and begins 2026) with controversy.

The said contention is quite simple: Overwatch 2 is running a regional event in China focused specifically on Talon, and players in all other regions feel left out because of it. Sure, there have been other regional-exclusive events for China before, as this version of the game basically catches up with the main version Overwatch which have been unavailable in China for several years. That's no less disappointing, though, especially considering how much cool cosmetics can be made at this China-exclusive event. While Overwatch 2's Winter Wonderland had a whole host of rewards, now it's over, and being able to earn a few skins, level skips, and loot boxes can't compare to getting some of the best cosmetics for free.

Overwatch 2's “Black Claw Archive” brings quality loot to Chinese players

While this limited-time Chinese event doesn't offer exclusive game modes or lore — two things that would really upset players in other regions — it does offer some of the rarest and most sought after. Overwatch 2 cosmetics. These include but are not limited to:

Demon Hunter Sombra
Luchador Reaper
Chained Reaper King
Thunder Doomfist
Lilith Moira
Ninja Sombra

These skins stand out for a variety of reasons. Chained King Reaper, Luchador Reaper, and Thunder Doomfist are rare because they are former OWL outfits that players outside of China permanently lost access to over a year ago. Lilith Moira was part of the expensive final battle pass pack during the Diablo 4 collaboration season, while Ninja Sombra was a season 19 exclusive battle pass. Demon Hunter Sombra is perhaps the most surprising unlock since it started out as a Blizzcon skin before being briefly unlockable during Halloween all the way back in 2019. While a recolor has since been released, the original remains extremely rare as players couldn't easily obtain it for over 7 years.

These are just a few of the three dozen skins offered as part of the promotion, with Redditor Legitimate_Pop5682 detailing how the promotion works for curious players outside of China. Somewhat shockingly, half of these rare skins can be obtained completely for free. Players must play as each “Black Claw” (Talon) hero to complete character-specific challenges and receive a free skin of their choice if they complete them all. Every day they log in, they get another free skin claim. Not only are Chinese players getting access to the skins that other fans are desperate to see back, but they're also getting them for free through this supposedly easy-to-complete event.

If that wasn't enough, playing 50 matches in 20 days nets players 20 regular loot boxes, 8 epics, and 3 legendaries – comparable haul to the Krampus Junkrat offering in Winter Wonderland 2025.

Overwatch 2 Region Exclusive events are slippery slopes

Overwatch 2 season 20 vendetta features challenger score in winter wonderland heroes stadium

While Overwatch 2Exclusive events in the region have so far been focused on China, maybe that won't always be the case. The Overwatch 2 The hero roster is packed with characters from all over the world, so there's room for things to spin out, leading to a UK-exclusive Tracer event, a Japan-only Kiriko event, a D.Va-centric Korea event, and so on. That's unlikely to happen, as it would only exacerbate the FOMO feeling, but it certainly doesn't seem impossible. While other regions complain about not getting these region-exclusive events, perhaps Blizzard will see the ideal solution as introducing region-exclusive events for other countries instead of stopping them altogether.

Giving Chinese players racing events that only give them loot boxes would make sense, but letting them get special cosmetics that players in other regions have lost access to seems like a step too far to me – especially considering how Chinese fans get said cosmetics for free. Players would love another chance just to buy Thunder Doomfist again, so seeing it offered for free to a certain group of players as a makeup gift (after they already have other, similar events) is understandably frustrating for some players. Hopefully, Blizzard will listen to these complaints and make a version of the Talon event available in other regions soon. It's hard to imagine it being as generous as the Chinese version, but it would still go a long way to making players feel like they're not missing out, as players currently feel like there's too much favoritism.