Blizzard is finally revisiting one of the most controversial changes in Overwatch 2. Starting with Season 10, new heroes will no longer be included in the Battle Pass and will no longer need to be unlocked.

New players will still need to unlock the original "Overwatch" roster first, but all heroes in "Overwatch 2" will be free from now on.

In the latest developer update video, game director Aaron Keller explained what 2024 will look like for the hero shooter and how Blizzard plans to "give the game a regular heartbeat." It starts with free access to the entire roster of heroes, including the new DPS hero "Venture," when Season 10 begins next month.

This season will also introduce a new way to obtain previously released Mythic skins, Overwatch 2's customizable cosmetics that are unlocked at the end of each Premium Battle Pass. The new Mythic Shop will allow users to unlock specific color and model variations of Mythic skins from Season 1 through Season 7. Future Mythic skins will be added to the store two seasons after their introduction. According to Keller, the specific mechanics will be revealed later, but according to the video on the store page, there will be "levels" that will be unlocked using a new type of currency with a triangle icon. Curiously, he mentions "upgrades," which may mean that there are new color schemes that can be unlocked even if you already own one; Valorant has a similar upgrade system for its top-of-the-line gun skins.

Additionally, both Premium and Free Battle Passes now earn coins, the premium currency in Overwatch 2. A total of 600 free Overwatch Coins can be earned with the Battle Pass and Weekly Challenges, giving players "more flexibility in earning XP for the Battle Pass to suit their playstyle."

Season 10 will be considerably less quirky than the initial launch of Overwatch 2, but now marks the start of a year of welcome changes.

Here's what's being added to Overwatch 2 this year:

Keller said that before Season 10, another video will be released covering updates to competitive mode grouping restrictions, "disruptive player behavior" and "player anonymity."

The 2024 plan appears to be Blizzard trying to create a clear identity for the sequel, which has struggled with consistency since the beginning. Prior to the recent PvP overhaul, it seemed like they had lost more than they gained after "Overwatch 2" replaced the original game. Heroes and cosmetics came at a price, and ambitious PvE plans were abandoned.

Whether forced by Blizzard's massive layoffs earlier this year or the plan all along, the new roadmap for "Overwatch 2" scales back on brand new additions and instead focuses on the improvements and It seems to be re-focusing attention on the changes. But while new PvE missions may not be part of it, a healthier core game may be the foundation for greater things to come. It is certainly a promising start, even if it is too early to call it a success.