Overwatch 1 Trophies: A Legacy Carried Forward?
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So, you’re wondering what’s going to happen to all those hard-earned Overwatch 1 trophies that you sweated blood, tears, and probably a few energy drinks over? The short answer is: everyone retains their Overwatch 1 trophies. A brand new trophy list was introduced with Overwatch 2. If the new list contains some of the same ones, they can auto-unlock based on your progress on the original list.
Let’s dive deeper into the specifics of how this all worked when the transition happened, and clarify some common concerns.
Understanding the Trophy Transition
When Overwatch 2 launched, it effectively replaced Overwatch 1. This meant that the original game was sunsetted, and all players were transitioned to the new platform. The initial concern for many was whether their progress and achievements would be lost in the process. Thankfully, Blizzard addressed this early on, confirming that, for the most part, your accomplishments would carry over.
Here’s a breakdown of what that looked like:
- Trophy Lists: Overwatch 2 features a completely new trophy list. Think of it as a fresh start with opportunities to earn new accolades.
- Automatic Unlocks: If the new trophy list in Overwatch 2 contained trophies identical to those you unlocked in Overwatch 1, there was a good chance they automatically unlocked based on your previous progress.
- Account-Based System: Trophies and achievements are tied to your Battle.net account, ensuring that progress isn’t lost when moving between platforms or games.
- Steam Achievements: Steam achievements are a different beast. While your in-game achievements were supposed to transfer, the actual Steam achievements were a separate system. Many players may have had to re-earn some achievements within Steam itself. This inconsistency caused some frustration but was ultimately separate from the main trophy transfer.
The Impact of the Overwatch 1 Shutdown
The shutdown of Overwatch 1 was a significant moment for the community. It marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter. All cosmetics were unified under the Battle.net ID. By unifying all the accounts into a Battle.net ID account, all cosmetics — including skins — are available in Overwatch 2 when it’s downloaded. The good news is that most items carried over.
While the core gameplay and hero roster were familiar, Overwatch 2 introduced new heroes, maps, modes, and challenges, necessitating a revamped trophy/achievement system. This explains why a separate trophy list was created, even though many older achievements could still be earned (or auto-unlocked) in the new game.
Unobtainable Trophies and the Changing Game
As game modes come and go, some trophies may become unobtainable. For example, the “Lockdown” and “Double Cap” trophies, specific to the Assault game mode, were no longer achievable after that mode was removed from the game. This is a common occurrence in live service games, where content is constantly being updated and adjusted. It’s always worth checking trophy guides and forums to identify any potentially unobtainable achievements before dedicating too much time to them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Overwatch Trophies
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Overwatch trophies, to further clarify the details of how they work and how they transitioned between games.
What happened to my Overwatch 1 stats?
Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible to directly view your competitive stats from Overwatch 1 within the Overwatch 2 interface.
Do Overwatch 1 owners get any special rewards in Overwatch 2?
Yes! Players who owned the original Overwatch received Kiriko through their Founder’s Pack, which needed to be redeemed by logging in before the end of Season Two.
Will my Overwatch 1 skins transfer to Overwatch 2?
Absolutely! All your cosmetics, including your hard-earned skins, transferred to Overwatch 2 when you linked your accounts. All items in the Hero Gallery across platforms are present in the merged battle.net account.
What happens to my Overwatch 1 credits in Overwatch 2?
All your unspent credits, comp points, and tokens were moved over to Overwatch 2. So, nothing was lost!
Do Overwatch 1 owners automatically get all the heroes in Overwatch 2?
If you owned Overwatch 1, you had access to almost every hero, excluding Kiriko (who was part of the Founder’s Pack). New players, on the other hand, started with only 15 heroes unlocked.
Can I still earn Overwatch 1 trophies in Overwatch 2?
You can’t earn the Overwatch 1 trophies per se, as the original game no longer exists. However, if Overwatch 2 contains identical trophies, progress from Overwatch 1 may have auto-unlocked them.
Will my Overwatch 1 gold guns carry over to Overwatch 2?
Yes, your unlocked golden guns transferred to Overwatch 2. The cosmetic unlocks also carry over.
Are Overwatch 2 titles permanent?
Overwatch 2 features challenges that unlock various cosmetics, including player titles. Lifetime and competitive challenges reward you with titles that are permanently available, unlike time-limited battle pass or event titles.
What are some of the hardest achievements to get in Overwatch 2?
Some of the notoriously difficult Overwatch 2 achievements include:
- The Floor Is Lava
- Rapid Discord
- Waste Not, Want Not
- Decked Out
- Cratered
- Held The Door
- Stand By Me
Are loot boxes coming back to Overwatch 2?
No, loot boxes are not coming back to Overwatch 2. The game has moved to a battle pass and in-game shop system for acquiring new cosmetics and content.
How do I get the “Most Valuable Teammate” player title?
To earn the “Most Valuable Teammate” title, you need to demonstrate:
- Positive influence on your team.
- Leadership and sportsmanship.
- Respectfulness, reliability, and supportiveness towards others.
What’s the rarest skin in Overwatch (and did it transfer)?
One of the rarest skins in Overwatch was Blizzcon Bastion. It was incredibly rare and has never been made available again! This transferred over if you previously owned it.
Why did Blizzard shut down Overwatch 1?
Blizzard shut down Overwatch 1 to fully focus on Overwatch 2, a sequel with significant updates, including new heroes, maps, modes, and a revised business model.
Does leaving games in Overwatch 2 result in penalties?
Yes, leaving a game early or being removed for inactivity in Overwatch 2 results in penalties, preventing you from joining new games until the original match is over.
What does ELO stand for in Overwatch?
Actually, it doesn’t stand for anything. It’s not really ELO but Elo. Named after Alfred Elo who invented it, initially designed for chess rankings. Its a rating system used for ranking players in zero-sum games (games where there are equal number of winners and losers each match)
Embracing the Future of Overwatch
The transition from Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2 was a major shift for the community. While some felt nostalgic for the original game, Overwatch 2 brought fresh content, new heroes, and a revised gameplay experience.
As a final note, understanding how games evolve and adapt is a fascinating area of study. If you’re interested in the intersection of games, learning, and society, consider exploring the resources and community at the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org). It’s a great way to connect with other enthusiasts and researchers in the field.
The world of Overwatch continues to evolve, offering new challenges, rewards, and opportunities to earn those coveted trophies and achievements. Good luck out there, heroes!