How Do I Get My Overwatch Skins Back? Your Ultimate Guide

Lost your favorite skins in Overwatch 2? Don’t panic! Getting your beloved cosmetics back is usually a straightforward process, primarily revolving around ensuring you’re logged into the correct Battle.net account and that you’ve properly merged your console accounts. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step, troubleshoot common issues, and answer all your burning questions.

The Core Solution: Account Merging and Verification

The vast majority of issues surrounding missing Overwatch skins stem from improper or incomplete account merging. Here’s a breakdown of the steps to take:

1. Verify Your Battle.net Account: Double-check that you are logging into the Battle.net account that was originally linked to your Overwatch 1 progress. It’s easy to accidentally use a different email address or create a new account unknowingly.

2. Merge Console Accounts: If you played Overwatch 1 on a console (PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch), you must merge those accounts with your Battle.net account. This is crucial, as console progress doesn’t automatically transfer. Here’s how:

   • Load Battle.net: Open the Battle.net desktop application.
   • Access Account Settings: Click your account name at the top of the screen and select ‘My Account.’ This will open your account settings in a web browser.
   • Navigate to Connections: Select ‘Connections’ in the left-hand menu.
   • Link Console Accounts: You’ll see options to add an Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo account. Link all relevant console accounts to your Battle.net account.
   • Confirm In-Game: Log into Overwatch 2. The game should prompt you to confirm the account merge. If not, check the main menu for an ‘Account Merge’ option.

3. Check the Merge Queue: Sometimes, merges can take a bit of time, especially during periods of high server traffic. Check the in-game merge queue to see the status of your merge.

4. Restart the Game: After the merge is complete, completely close Overwatch 2 and the Battle.net launcher. Re-launching the game often refreshes your account data and displays your skins.

5. Update Account Details: If you’re unable to log into your Battle.net account, try updating your account details (email address, password, etc.) through the Battle.net website.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even after following these steps, some players still experience problems. Here are some common issues and their solutions:

• Shop Not Showing Up: If the shop button in Overwatch 2 is missing, it often indicates that your account is still undergoing a merge. Once the merge completes, logging out and back in should restore the shop.

• Stuck in Merge Queue: The most common cause for being stuck in the merge queue is that the console account was previously merged with another Battle.net account. Once a console account has been merged, that progress is permanently tied to that Battle.net account. You cannot merge it again.

• Missing Progress Despite Merging: If you’ve merged your accounts but still don’t see your skins, double-check that you merged the correct console accounts. It’s possible you accidentally linked the wrong profile.

• Account Mislabeling: In some rare cases, the game might mislabel your account, causing you to lose access to pre-existing characters and skins. This can often be resolved by simply logging out and logging back in.

Understanding Account Merging Limitations

It’s important to understand the limitations of account merging:

• One-Time Merge: You can only merge a console account once. If you’ve previously merged it with a different Battle.net account, you cannot merge it again with a new account.

• No Battle.net Account Merging: You cannot merge multiple Battle.net accounts. This means you can’t combine the progress from two separate Battle.net accounts into one.

How Overwatch 2 Cross Progression Works

Overwatch 2 features cross-progression, meaning your progress is shared across all platforms linked to your Battle.net account. This includes skins, hero unlocks, competitive rank, and other cosmetic items. The key is ensuring all your accounts are properly linked and merged. To further investigate into games and how they work, checkout the work being done at the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, who are doing great work within the gaming community, and at GamesLearningSociety.org.

What Happens If You Owned Overwatch 1?

If you owned Overwatch 1, all of your progress will automatically carry over into Overwatch 2 after the merge is complete. You’ll retain all your skins, heroes, and other cosmetic items. Note that while Overwatch 1 owners can play all new PvP maps and use the new heroes, the PvE content is a separate purchase.

Are Some Skins Truly Gone?

While most skins transfer over, some skins were exclusive to limited-time events or promotions.

• Limited-Time Skins: Skins from past seasonal events and challenges are usually available for purchase in the Hero Gallery using Credits or Coins, so long as they are not associated with an expired promotion.

• Removed Skins: A few skins, such as Pink Mercy, Zarya Alien, and the BlizzCon skins, have been removed due to controversy, exclusivity agreements, or limited availability. These skins are not obtainable through normal gameplay.

FAQs: Your Burning Overwatch 2 Skin Questions Answered

1. Is it too late to merge Overwatch accounts?

No, it’s not too late to merge Overwatch accounts. You should be able to merge your console accounts with your Battle.net account at any time.

2. Why didn’t my Overwatch 2 account merge?

The most common reason for a failed account merge is that the console account was previously merged with another Battle.net account. Each console account can only be merged once.

3. Why is the shop not showing up in Overwatch 2?

The shop button might be missing if your account is currently undergoing a merge. Once the merge completes, log out and back in.

4. Why did I lose all my Overwatch data?

If you appear to be missing all of your Overwatch data, make sure you are logging into the correct Battle.net account and have merged all relevant console accounts.

5. Can you still keep your progress from Overwatch 1 if you forgot to merge?

Yes, but you need to merge your console accounts to your Battle.net account. If you don’t confirm your account merge, you’ll continue to see a prompt to approve the merge in-game.

6. What Overwatch skins are no longer available?

Skins like Pink Mercy, Zarya Alien, and BlizzCon skins are no longer available due to exclusivity or controversy.

7. Can you refund Overwatch 2 skins?

Customer Support generally does not refund or exchange Golden Weapon purchases. Use caution when selecting these skins, as the choice is final.

8. How long does it take to merge Overwatch accounts?

Account merging usually takes around 6 hours to complete, but it can sometimes take longer due to server load.

9. How do I merge my old Overwatch account with my new one?

You can’t merge two Battle.net accounts. You must link your console account to your Battle.net account. See instructions above.

10. Can you merge two Battle.net accounts?

No, you cannot merge multiple Battle.net accounts.

11. How do I find my old Overwatch account?

Contact Customer Support with the following information: first and last name of the account holder, email addresses that may have been used, phone numbers associated with the account, order IDs for purchases, and your BattleTag.

12. Will I lose all my stuff from Overwatch 1?

No, all of your progress should automatically carry over to Overwatch 2 after merging your accounts.

13. What are the rarest Overwatch skins?

Some of the rarest Overwatch skins include Zarya’s Alien Skin, Bastion’s Blizzcon Skin, Winston’s Blizzcon Skin, Widowmaker’s Noire Skin, and Mercy’s Pink Skin.

14. Can you unlock old Overwatch skins?

Yes, all Epic and Legendary skins from Overwatch 1 are available to unlock through the Hero Gallery, including seasonal event skins.

15. Why didn’t I get my old Overwatch skins?

Ensure that you are logging into the correct Battle.net account and have merged all console accounts with Overwatch progress to your Battle.net account.

Final Thoughts

Losing your Overwatch skins can be frustrating, but by following these steps and troubleshooting tips, you should be able to recover your beloved cosmetics. Remember to double-check your account details, ensure your console accounts are properly merged, and be patient during the merging process. With a little effort, you’ll be back to showcasing your favorite skins in no time!