Blizzard Entertainment is set to fundamentally change how players showcase their dedication in Overwatch 2 with a massive system overhaul dubbed "Progression 2.0," slated to launch with the upcoming Season 18. The announcement details a complete rework of the hero progression system, aiming to create a more streamlined, visually rewarding, and engaging experience for both new and veteran players.
The current hero-based progression, which replaced the original game's account-level system, was acknowledged by the development team as feeling "unnecessarily complex." After six months of refinement, Team 4 is rolling out a replacement that focuses on clear visual milestones, better rewards, and a much-improved user interface.
A Visual Overhaul: Ascended Borders and Badges
The most prominent feature of Progression 2.0 is the introduction of Ascended Borders. These are new, dynamic portrait borders players will earn for every 20 levels of progression on a specific hero. These aren't just static icons. They evolve, starting with a basic design and gaining "complexity and electric energy" as a player levels up, culminating in a "fiery flair" at level 60 to signify true mastery.
These borders are pure bragging rights and will automatically apply when you select that hero, shimmering for your allies on the Hero Select screen and appearing on the Kill Cam for your opponents to see.
Complementing the borders are reworked Badges. While badges have existed on career profiles, the new system revamps them to flaunt significant milestones using a classic color-graded rarity scheme, from common gray to legendary gold. These will appear under your portrait in Hero Select, adding another layer of visual distinction. This information will be displayed on new player cards, designed to help teammates quickly gauge experience and build better team compositions.
More Than Just Looks: Loot Boxes and a New Hub
While visual flair is welcome, Blizzard is also sweetening the deal with more tangible rewards. Notably, players will earn Epic and Legendary Loot Boxes at certain milestones while leveling up their heroes, a welcome return for those who enjoy the surprise of unboxing cosmetics.
To manage all this, a brand-new Progression 2.0 Hero screen is being introduced. This multi-functional page will serve as a central hub, featuring 3D hero models, clear progression tracking, and an easy-to-navigate list of rewards. Hero-specific items like name cards and titles can be equipped with a single click directly from this screen, eliminating the need to hunt through extensive cosmetic menus.
Perhaps the best news for longtime fans? All these rewards are retroactive.
That's right. All the time players have invested in their favorite heroes since Overwatch 2 launched will be counted. A player with a level 50 Baptiste, for instance, will instantly unlock all Ascended borders, badges, cosmetics, and Loot Boxes up to that level when Season 18 begins. Veteran players should prepare to open a lot of presents.
Welcoming Newcomers and Adjusting the Economy
Progression 2.0 isn't just for the veterans. A key focus is improving the experience for new players or those trying a hero for the first time. To combat the feeling of having no customization options, the first 20 levels of any hero's progression will now grant a "Cosmetic Starter Kit."
This kit includes hero-specific cosmetics and Overwatch Credits to help players kickstart their collection. To make this even more accessible, the experience curve for these initial 20 levels has been accelerated, flattening out to a standard rate afterward.
Because these items are now easily earnable through gameplay, they will be removed from the Hero Gallery and will no longer be purchasable with credits. Players who have already acquired these specific cosmetics will be granted an equivalent value in credits just before Season 18 goes live.
Addressing Competitive and Veteran Concerns
Blizzard has also anticipated concerns from the competitive community about how this new visual information could affect gameplay. To prevent players from being counter-picked based on their hero mastery, enemy teams will not be able to see player cards or Ascended borders until 10-15 seconds after a match begins. The full player card will only be visible to an enemy on the kill cam, an option that can be toggled off.
For content creators, a new Streamer Mode will be available for those who have completed the "Tenacious Hero" challenge (winning 750 games). This mode will shield a player's most-played heroes from their own teammates during Hero Select, helping to prevent them from being pressured into specific picks. Their Ascended Border, however, will remain visible to everyone. This thoughtful addition shows an awareness of the unique pressures faced by high-profile players.
Overall, the Progression 2.0 system appears to be a comprehensive and well-considered update that promises to make the long-term Overwatch 2 experience more satisfying for everyone involved.
