Overwatch 2 Launches Fan-Made Skin Contest in China, Players Elsewhere Left Wanting

Overwatch 2 fans in China are about to get a unique opportunity: the chance to see their own hero skin designs officially added to the game. NetEase, Blizzard’s publishing partner in the region, has announced a special competition that invites players to submit original skin concepts under a specific theme.

The contest asks participants to imagine “what if the Omnic crisis never happened,” a reference to the pivotal lore event that shaped the Overwatch universe.

It’s a creative prompt that opens the door to plenty of alternate-history designs, but Blizzard has also set some ground rules. Submissions can’t be too similar to existing skins, and they need to be realistic enough to work within the game’s 3D modeling pipeline.

On top of that, AI-generated art is strictly prohibited, ensuring that only original human-made designs make the cut.

Voting for the contest begins on September 26. While players will get a say, the system is weighted heavily toward the jury, which accounts for 90% of the decision-making. The Overwatch development team will ultimately have the final approval.

For the winner, the rewards are significant: 20,000 Yuan (roughly $2,800 USD) and the honor of seeing their creation brought to life in-game.

As exciting as this sounds, the competition is limited to China, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the wider community. Many fans outside the region are calling for Blizzard to expand the initiative globally. Others have voiced frustration, saying they feel left out of meaningful opportunities to contribute to the game they support.