Will I Keep My Overwatch 1 Skins? A Comprehensive Guide to Skin Transfers in Overwatch 2
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The burning question on many Overwatch veterans’ minds is: will my hard-earned skins from Overwatch 1 carry over to Overwatch 2? The short answer is a resounding yes! Blizzard Entertainment has made it a priority to ensure that players’ cosmetic collections are preserved during the transition to the sequel. You can rest assured that your favorite skins, sprays, player icons, emotes, and highlight intros will be waiting for you in Overwatch 2. This article provides a detailed look at how this transfer works, common issues, and answers to frequently asked questions about your Overwatch 1 cosmetics.
How Skin Transfers Work
The core mechanism for transferring your Overwatch 1 cosmetics involves linking your console accounts to your Battle.net account. If you played Overwatch 1 on PC, your progress is already tied to your Battle.net account, so no extra steps are needed. However, console players, such as those on PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, will need to complete an account merge to ensure their cosmetics are transferred correctly.
Account Merging Process
The process, in general, involves these steps:
- Boot up your console version of Overwatch 1 or 2.
- Log in using your desired profile to merge.
- Link your Battle.net account to your console game profile. You’ll typically do this through an option in the game’s menu.
- Choose “Options” at the menu.
- Find the “Link Account” tab. This may also be titled as ‘Account Merge’ in Overwatch 2.
- Scan the QR code when prompted with your mobile device. This will direct you to your web browser, where you can log in to your Battle.net account.
- Log in to an existing Battle.net account or create a new one if needed.
- Confirm the merge, and that’s it!
Once your accounts are successfully merged, all your progress, including skins, will be accessible in Overwatch 2.
What Transfers?
Beyond basic skins, here’s what you can expect to be transferred:
- Standard skins: Common, Rare, Epic, and Legendary skins acquired through loot boxes, events, or in-game currency.
- Exclusive skins: Special skins earned through events, challenges, or promotions, such as Twitch drops, OWL tokens or BlizzCon rewards.
- Golden weapon skins: Hard-earned golden weapons, purchased with Competitive Points, are also transferred to Overwatch 2.
- Other cosmetics: Player icons, sprays, emotes, and highlight intros you’ve unlocked will also make the jump to Overwatch 2.
Essentially, everything you unlocked in Overwatch 1 is designed to be available in Overwatch 2, making the transition seamless for veteran players.
What if You Are Missing Skins?
While the transfer process is usually smooth, some players may encounter issues. Here are some common causes of missing skins and how to address them:
- Incorrect Account: The most frequent reason for missing skins is logging into the wrong Battle.net account. Double-check you’re using the account associated with your Overwatch 1 progress.
- Unmerged Console Accounts: If you played Overwatch 1 on a console, ensure you’ve properly merged your console account with your Battle.net account.
- Account Merge Errors: If you see an error, it may be because the console account you are trying to merge was previously merged to a different Overwatch 2 account.
- Delayed Transfers: Sometimes, it may take a bit of time for all your cosmetics to fully appear after merging accounts. Be patient, and if the problem persists, contact Blizzard Support.
How to Contact Blizzard Support
If you encounter persistent problems, Blizzard Support is available to help.
- Go to the Blizzard Support website: https://eu.battle.net/support/en/
- Select Overwatch 2.
- Choose the relevant issue, such as account management or missing in-game items.
- Follow the prompts to submit a ticket or chat with a representative.
- Alternatively, you can attempt to use the Account Recovery Tool.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions surrounding Overwatch 1 skin transfers:
1. Can I still transfer my skins after Overwatch 1 has ended?
Yes, your Overwatch 1 skins will transfer to Overwatch 2 even after the original game’s servers have been shut down. The merge process links your accounts, and the cosmetics are then accessible in Overwatch 2.
2. Do I need to pay for Overwatch 2 if I owned Overwatch 1?
No, the base game of Overwatch 2 multiplayer is free-to-play. Owning Overwatch 1 grants you access to all launch heroes (except for Kiriko, initially), plus other benefits.
3. Do Overwatch 1 settings carry over to Overwatch 2?
Yes, your Overwatch 1 sensitivity settings are identical in Overwatch 2, so you don’t need to make any manual adjustments or use converters. Other game settings should carry over too, although you may wish to review these after logging into the new game.
4. Do I get all characters if I owned Overwatch 1?
Yes, if you owned Overwatch 1, you will have access to all the original heroes in Overwatch 2, except for new heroes that release with each season (like Kiriko at launch). These heroes have to be unlocked via playing the game. New players to the game will start with only 15 of the 35 available heroes.
5. What perks do Overwatch 1 owners get in Overwatch 2?
Besides having all old heroes unlocked, Overwatch 1 owners received the “Founders Pack” for logging in during a certain period. This included immediate access to Kiriko and some cosmetic items. You do not receive any premium battle passes.
6. Why did I lose my Overwatch 1 skins?
If you are missing your skins, the most likely reason is logging into the wrong Battle.net account or failing to complete the account merge process for console players. Ensure you are on the correct account and have merged your console accounts properly.
7. Can I transfer my skins if I own multiple copies of Overwatch 1?
Yes, all your progress across different console accounts can be transferred into a single Battle.net account, consolidating all of your Overwatch progress into a unified profile.
8. Are Overwatch 1 skins no longer obtainable?
Yes, the original way to obtain Overwatch 1 skins are no longer possible with the shutting down of the servers. Some old and rare skins from Overwatch 1, like Pink Mercy, Zarya Alien, and BlizzCon skins, are no longer obtainable through regular means.
9. Do golden guns transfer to Overwatch 2?
Yes, your unlocked golden guns will carry over to your Overwatch 2 account. However, the method of acquiring golden guns and other legacy skins may change in the future.
10. How do I recover my Overwatch 1 account if I forgot my login information?
You can use Blizzard’s account recovery tool or contact their support team for assistance. Visit https://eu.battle.net/support/en/article/161940 for more information.
11. Do I need Overwatch 1 installed to merge accounts?
No, you do not need to have Overwatch 1 installed to merge your accounts. The linking is done through your Battle.net account.
12. Why didn’t my Overwatch 1 account merge properly?
The most common reason is that the console account you are trying to merge was previously merged with a different Overwatch 2 account. This is one-time process, and can not be reversed.
13. What is the 6/2 rule in Overwatch?
The 6/2 rule is a concept related to competitive play. It suggests that in a competitive season (typically lasting eight weeks), you should focus on improving for the first six weeks and then apply what you’ve learned in the final two weeks.
14. Is Overwatch 1 obsolete now?
Yes, Overwatch 1’s servers have been shut down, and the game is no longer playable. Overwatch 2 is the main title going forward.
15. Can I merge my accounts on multiple platforms (e.g. PlayStation and Xbox)?
Yes, you can merge multiple console accounts to one Battle.net account. All your progress will be consolidated under this one account, ensuring you have all your content on the platform you play on.
Conclusion
Transferring your Overwatch 1 skins to Overwatch 2 is designed to be a seamless process. By following the account merging steps and being mindful of common issues, you can ensure that your cosmetic collection carries over without any problems. With your favorite skins, sprays, and other cosmetics intact, you’ll be able to jump into Overwatch 2 with a familiar and personalized style. Enjoy the game!