Overwatch Announces 10th Anniversary Event and Rewards

Overwatch is officially celebrating its 10th anniversary this month, and Blizzard has revealed a brand-new in-game event packed with cosmetic rewards, Loot Boxes, and community challenges.

The original Overwatch launched on May 24, 2016, quickly becoming one of the most influential multiplayer shooters of its generation. Over the past decade, the franchise has experienced major highs and lows, including the transition to Overwatch 2 and the recent rebranding that removed the “2” from the title earlier in 2026.

That overhaul marked one of the biggest turning points in the game’s history. Blizzard introduced a redesigned narrative direction, major gameplay improvements, and five new heroes for Season 1, with additional characters planned throughout the year. The changes helped Overwatch regain momentum and reach a new wave of popularity in 2026.

The new anniversary celebration begins on May 12 and runs through June 1. During the event, players will be able to earn or unlock a wide variety of cosmetics and rewards.

While Blizzard has not fully explained how every item will be distributed, the company has already confirmed several major rewards included in the event.

According to Blizzard, the event will feature:

• 21 launch hero skins
• 15 Anniversary Loot Boxes
• 33 developer and community-created 2D cosmetics
• 5 exclusive weapon charms
• Special anniversary player titles
• Community-wide challenges with weekly rewards

One of the revealed weapon charms features a large “10” design combined with Mercy-inspired wings, though Blizzard has not yet shown all of the cosmetics included in the event.

Promotional artwork currently highlights characters such as Mercy, Tracer, and Winston, suggesting that many of the original Overwatch heroes will play a major role in the anniversary celebration.

Blizzard also teased a new community event system tied to the anniversary update. Players will work together to complete challenges across the game, unlocking additional Legendary Loot Boxes and other bonuses each week.

The studio has hinted that more surprises are still waiting to be revealed before the event officially launches.

Before the anniversary event begins, players still have a short window to participate in the current Junkrat’s Loot Hunt event.

By the way, this weekend, Overwatch players can earn extra experience and receive free loot boxes.

Running from May 8 through May 12, the event allows players to earn up to nine free Loot Boxes while also benefiting from double Battle Pass XP gains. Blizzard appears to be using the event as a lead-in to the much larger anniversary celebration arriving immediately afterward.

With Overwatch entering its second decade, Blizzard is clearly positioning the anniversary event as both a celebration of the franchise’s history and a major push toward the future of the game.