Overwatch anniversary event dates and skins revealed

Overwatch turns 10 years old in May, and to celebrate the hero shooter’s major milestone, Blizzard Entertainment is giving players a bunch of free stuff. That includes 21 exclusive launch hero skins that will give the original launch heroes of Overwatch — everyone playable prior to Ana’s release in 2016 — an epic purple makeover.

Players will also receive 15 Anniversary loot boxes, the contents of which are not yet clear, and will be able to earn weekly Legendary loot boxes through “community challenges.” Other freebies include 33 dev team and community-made 2D cosmetics and five weapon charms (including a 10th anniversary-themed charm), Blizzard announced Monday.

Overwatch‘s 10th anniversary event runs in-game from May 12 to June 1.

We’ll add more details when Blizzard reveals images and official information on the 10th anniversary cosmetics.

While many Overwatch fans are happy to be receiving freebies that mark the game’s first decade, some are also complaining that the anniversary rewards pale in comparison to what players in China will receive this month. Chinese Overwatch players get a whopping 40 Legendary skins and nine Mythic skins in May, as well as loot boxes that contain Mythic Prisms, Legendary skins, Overwatch coins, and more.

Overwatch players in China will also get a fresh batch of local exclusive skins, including a highly coveted Ramattra skin that’s all about… housework?

Granted, Chinese tech giant NetEase runs Overwatch in China, not Blizzard, so the developer has limited control over what gets released for the hero shooter in that region. Chinese Overwatch players also missed out on years of content for the game when NetEase and Blizzard severed their relationship back in 2022, so one can certainly understand why these exclusives don’t go worldwide.

For now, though, Overwatch fans will have to be content with Blizzard’s 10th anniversary offerings, which roll out with Tuesday’s weekly update for the game.

Overwatch is now available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game’s most recent season launched in April and brought new Damage hero Sierra to the roster.