Overwatch 2 players slam “pay to lose” Widowmaker skin
Overwatch 2 players have hit out after the new Widowmaker ‘Medusa’ skin left anyone who bought it at a major disadvantage during matches.
The Overwatch 2 Battle for Olympus event is in full swing now, giving players a host of Greek-themed skins to unlock during Season 2. Many of the game’s heroes have received cosmetics inspired by Ancient Greece, from the Gods of Olympus to mythical beats.
These skins are supposed to be purely cosmetic, and have no impact on Overwatch 2‘s gameplay whatsoever. However, one of the new skins, in particular, is actually offering severe disadvantages to anyone who buys it.
The Medusa skin changes DPS hero Widowmaker into the mythical Gorgon, complete with the iconic snakes for hair. But as Overwatch 2 pro Brian St. Pierre, better known as Kephrii, pointed out, the outfit comes with some serious drawbacks.
“The new Medusa skin is so loud it actively punishes you for using it,” he explained on Twitter. “Not only can you not hear enemy footsteps you also can’t hide either. The enemy team can hear the snakes/hair on the Medusa skin & pinpoint your location from them.”
He also shared a clip of the skin in action, first from the point of view of an enemy player. Using the sound of the snakes, he was easily able to track down a hidden Widowmaker that would have been otherwise hidden.
Then, while using the Medusa skin himself, the hiss of the same snakes covered up the sound of an approaching enemy.
While some felt that Kephrii was overreacting, there were plenty of Overwatch 2 players that responded to the tweet condemning the skin.
“Just when you thought that the game couldn’t get even more uncompetitive,” said responded fellow OW2 player Kayjii. “Every time this game is updated I become increasingly content with my decision to stop playing,” agreed CplGoon.
Since this skin can only be unlocked by purchasing it from the store, other players took issue with the fact they were effectively being punished for spending money on the game. “Pay to lose, the only way it should be,” joked KickinKeyla.
Blizzard are yet to address the issue or announce if there are any plans to reduce the sound made by the Medusa outfit. In the meantime, anyone who bought the skin might be better off avoiding it, especially in Overwatch 2 Ranked matches.
For more on Overwatch 2, be sure to check out the best PC settings, as well as our guide on the Endorsement system.
Image credit: Blizzard Entertainment