They sell us anemic, 72MB sized physical disc versions of the game. There's nothing inside, and the only way to play is to download the rest of the game as an update. Why do this? It feels like e-waste, when you sell them something that only acts as a media to be used for transferring ownership.
There's really two answers for this:
- They're doing it to cut down on costs.
- They're doing it to give you the illusion that you physically own the game.
Either way is unacceptable. If someone buys a physical copy of a game, they should be getting that physical copy. They should have the Campaign and the base multiplayer on the disc. Not using the disc as a key to unlock those contents to download.
The point you make about overwatch 2 though, I've gotta disagree with. Of course this is coming from someone who hasn't played Overwatch. But from what I understand from your post is that you need to purchase the season pass then you unlock characters by reaching certain levels of the season pass.
I find nothing wrong with this. IIRC, Overwatch 2 is a f2p game. In order to make up for the costs of it being an F2P game, there needs to be some sort of microtransactions. Having it harder to level is just the downside to an F2P as it incentivizes people to buy shortcuts, which is where the company makes money.
If they wanted to implement this more successfully they could really offer a subscription system like some MMO's do. Have a monthly Sub cost x amount of price, in it include say the season pass and early access to it, an exclusive character every now and then, and have subs earn experience towards the season pass faster.
F2P games seem good in short term, but players often end up paying for it somewhere down the road.
Yeah, I forgot to mention the paid subscription version. But you do have a point, some point they all have to pay for it.