Overwatch 2: LE SSERAFIM Event and Mid-Season Update Received Criticism

Last Tuesday (the 18th), Overwatch 2 fans received the mid-season update. The idea is to add more new features for the 15th Season, which has received several compliments from the community.

The main new features include a second collaboration with the K-Pop group LE SSERAFIM, as well as a testing period for the new heroine. However, the update has been receiving criticism and may be the biggest negative point of the season so far. We’ll cover everything in this article, so check it out!

It’s impossible to start this analysis without mentioning the return of LE SSERAFIM to the game, as it’s the central point of the update.

New Skins

The collab stands out for a new collection of skins based on the K-Pop group, the privileged characters this time were: Ashe, D.Va, Juno, Illari and Mercy.

These new fits are amazing and were praised by many fans, but the community also pointed out some negative points. The main criticism is the price increase compared to the last event, which is unaffordable for many players.

Each of the skins costs 1,900 Overwatch Coins, or 2,800 in the package that includes an Emote, Victory Pose, Name Card, Player Icon and Spray. However, you can purchase the package of all five characters together for 6,900 coins, which totals about 60 dollars.

The skins provided in 2023 remain exclusive to those who purchased the pack at the time, but a new version of them with a blue tint was offered in a bundle for 4500 Overwatch Coins. I think that's a pretty steep price considering that these are recolors or “chromas” of the set from two years ago.

These two sets can also be purchased at a discount, in the LE SSERAFIM Ultra Bundle, which costs 9900 coins.

In addition, D.Va received a skin from this partnership again, and, unlike the first time, when the five chosen characters represented a complete team - one tank, two DPS and two supports - now the looks were given to one tank (D.Va again), only one DPS and three supports, with several Overwatch damage characters, such as Mei, also fitting the theme. But these are minor points and don’t deserve criticism, since the choice is mainly made by the LE SSERAFIM artists themselves, but it was noticed by the community.

Moving on to the positive points, the new skins are not only great in their own right, but we see other improvements compared to the first set released years ago. The “Choreography” emotes made available in 2023 do not accompany any music from the group, which sounds strange since it’s actually a choreography. But this problem has been solved, the “Crazy Choreography” emotes come with a soundtrack.

You can see the difference in the video below:

If you can afford it and are a fan of the group, this new set is definitely worth unlocking. The “Blue Flame” version of the old pack might not be worth it, especially if you already own the original versions, since they’ll just be recolors for a high price.

Game Modes, Challenges and Rewards

This is where the biggest problem lies. It's a shame that Blizzard adds new game modes and challenges with free rewards in events, but what we've been given today is far below the level of LE SSERAFIM's first appearance.

In 2023, we had Concert Clash, a 3v3 mode where we could choose between D.Va, Sombra, Tracer, Kiriko, and Brigitte, all equipped with the set's skins at the time, to play. The idea was to battle the enemy team and break ticket machines to go to the LE SSERAFIM show. This time, we didn't have the opportunity to experience it, and no new mode was made available to fans.

We've always criticized the return of recycled modes in Overwatch 2, but is the solution to remove them and not add anything in their place? Especially since this is a very rare event, unlike Halloween which happens every year.

Logically, the ideal would be an entirely new and revamped mode, but just bringing back the Concert Clash would please part of the community. Not bringing anything back was a mistake.

Furthermore, at the time the challenges revolved around the Concert Clash, without it the missions were generic, like "Deal 30,000 damage" or "Heal 30,000 health". You just have to play normally to complete them, it’d be nice if the challenge brought something specific, or at least encouraged you to play with the heroines who received the skins and are part of the event.

And the main rewards are practically the same, the legendary Fawksey James skin for Junkrat and the “Fawksey Pose” Victory Pose, granted to the same character. The biggest news in this regard are two Weapon Charms and the “FEARLESS Fighter” Player Title.

The biggest problem in providing the same outfit again is that it takes away the feeling of exclusivity. Fawksey James, until now, has always been valued for being limited to players who completed the missions in 2023, and now it’s being criticized by the community for losing its rarity. The same goes for its Victory Pose.

Overall, the event brings expensive but great skins that can be worth it if you can afford them, but it lacks generic challenges and new modes, besides repeated rewards.

Apart from the collab, some other additions have arrived to the Hero Shooter.

Widowmaker's Mythic Weapon

Each season brings two mythic skins, one for a hero and one for a weapon. This week, we received the new mythic weapon for Widowmaker. It can be acquired for 50 Mythic Prisms and can be upgraded three times to unlock new animations and effects, totaling 80 Prisms.

Check out the video below testing the weapon at its maximum level.

Freja's trial period, new heroine

In Overwatch 2: Spotlight Blizzard announced the new damage character, Freja. During March 21st and 24th she’ll be able to be tested in casual modes, before her official debut, which will occur in Season 16, similar to what happened with Hazard in November.

Learn more about her in her trailer:

Modes on the way, including competitive 6v6

The company has announced a series of rotating modes for the upcoming months, including the return of Overwatch Classic, but in the GOATS format, where teams will be made up of three tanks and three supports.

6v6 has also returned to open queues, both casual and competitive! Blizzard plans to gradually increase the testing of this format, while collecting feedback from the community to make the best possible decision.

In April, the NormalWatch mode will be available, more specifically between the 1st and 14th. The proposal is to bring chaos with crazy mechanics and ridiculous balances.

A new Orisa skin, “Rainy Ducky”, will be one of the rewards of this event.

This update hasn’t been as well-received as the one that kicked off Season 15. Despite the beautiful visuals of LE SSERAFIM, the event is slightly weaker than the previous one. However, the mythical Widowmaker skin, the rotating modes and the Freja testing period are all good enough to keep the audience engaged until the next major update.

I hope you enjoyed this article! I’m available for any questions or comments.