{"id":2182085,"date":"2026-10-06T15:25:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2182085"},"modified":"2026-10-06T15:25:26","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T12:25:26","slug":"horrible-day-to-be-a-shion-main-overwatch-fans-arent-happy-about-five-new-china-exclusive-skins-not-coming-to-the-rest-of-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2182085","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Horrible day to be a Shion main&#8221; &#8211; Overwatch fans aren&#8217;t happy about five new China-exclusive skins not coming to the rest of the world"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"article \" data-ads=\"true\" data-article-type=\"news\" data-article-group=\"news\" data-paywalled=\"false\" data-premium=\"false\" data-sponsored=\"false\" data-type=\"article\">\n<header class=\"article_header\" data-component=\"article-header\">\n<div class=\"breadcrumbs\">\n<nav class=\"nav_breadcrumbs\" data-component=\"nav-breadcrumbs\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumb\">\n<ul class=\"nav-links\">\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Home<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/news\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      News<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li>\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/overwatch-2\" data-active=\"false\"><br \/>\n                      Overwatch (2026)<br \/>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_details\" id=\"main-content\">\n<h1 class=\"title\">&#8220;Horrible day to be a Shion main&#8221; &#8211; Overwatch fans aren&#8217;t happy about five new China-exclusive skins not coming to the rest of the world<\/h1>\n<p class=\"strapline\">An unfavourable Evolution.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"headline_asset\">\n<figure class=\"headline_image_wrapper\">\n<p>        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"headline_image\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/overwatch-defiled-anthem.jpg?width=570&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;dpr=3&amp;auto=webp\" alt loading=\"eager\" data-uri=\"overwatch-defiled-anthem.jpg\" data-lightbox width=\"570\" height=\"321\"><figcaption>\n          <span class=\"attribution\">Image credit: <cite>Blizzard<\/cite><\/span><br \/>\n        <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metadata\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/assetsio.gnwcdn.com\/pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg?width=2048&amp;height=2048&amp;fit=bounds&amp;quality=85&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\"><\/p>\n<p>  <img alt=\"Dom Peppiatt avatar\" data-autosize=\"crop_lossy\" data-uri=\"pxl_20220402_110941365.portrait_V04meYj.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1\" width=\"1044\" height=\"1130\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n                  <span class=\"article_type\" data-slug=\"news\"><br \/>\n                    News<br \/>\n                  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"by\">by<\/span> <span class=\"author\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/authors\/dom-peppiatt\">Dom Peppiatt<\/a><\/span>                    <span class=\"job_title\"><br \/>\n                      Deputy Editorial Director<br \/>\n                    <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"published_at\">\n<p>Published on   <time datetime=\"2026-10-06T15:25:26+00:00\" data-auto-time-zone=\"true\" data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" data-hour=\"numeric\" data-minute=\"numeric\">Oct. 6, 2026, 3:25 p.m.<\/time>\n              <\/div>\n<div class=\"comments\">\n      <a class=\"comments__link comments-bubble\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/overwatch-defiled-anthem-china-skins?view=comments\" rel=\"nofollow\"><br \/>\n          9 comments<br \/>\n      <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"header_actions\">\n<p><button class=\"mypop-button button wide\" data-state=\"follow\" data-type=\"tag\" data-uuid=\"c2808a0a-af25-4c5b-b3ad-be0a901ed1cd\" data-name=\"Overwatch (2026)\" data-follow-text=\"Follow Overwatch (2026)\" data-unfollow-text=\"Following Overwatch (2026)\" data-aria-follow-text=\"Follow Overwatch (2026)\" data-aria-unfollow-text=\"Following Overwatch (2026)\" data-popup=\"true\" data-force-login=\"true\" aria-label=\"Follow Overwatch (2026)\" title=\"Follow Overwatch (2026)\"><br \/>\n  Follow Overwatch (2026)<br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n  <a class=\"button outline wide preferred_source_button\" data-component=\"preferred-source-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=eurogamer.net\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"logo\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><br \/>\nPrioritise us on Google  <\/a>\n          <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\" data-autopogo>\n<p>Earlier this week, Blizzard released a new trailer for an upcoming event in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/overwatch\">Overwatch<\/a>. Called &#8216;Defiled Anthem&#8217;, the event features skins and cosmetics for Shion, D.Mon, Kiriko, Reaper, and Emre, with the highlight of the whole activation culminating in a transforming &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin that changes sound effects and visual effects as the match goes on. The only catch? These new skins and cosmetics are China-specific and have not been announced for the rest of the world. This has happened in the past with a Naraka: Bladepoint crossover, as well as exclusive skins for Pharah and Mercy.<\/p>\n<p>Player sentiment, as you can imagine, has been negative: take a look at any Overwatch-focused subreddit or social media account, and you&#8217;ll see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wxyorw\/overwatch_defiled_anthem_trailer_these_skins_are\/\">the same complaints<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OWCavalry\/status\/2106945679222513986\">cropping up<\/a>. But why does this happen? Why does Blizzard put out these skins in one region when it knows fans in another are going to complain?<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/blizzard-admits-it-messed-up-overwatchs-10th-anniversary-event-but-insists-its-happy-with-where-the-game-is-today\">in an interview with IGN<\/a>, Blizzard\u2019s head of development for live games, Walter Kong, explained that the addition of Chinese-only skins is largely because of the studio&#8217;s relationship with Chinese publisher Netease, which handles the promotion and management of the game in the region.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think NetEase has the responsibility of publishing our game in China, and part of their approach is to do things that are specific to that market,&#8221; Kong explained. &#8220;And the approach that we want to take is to make sure that our game makes players feel cared for, no matter the market. And I think we fell short of the mark with this current event, but it does mean that as we look forward to future events and activations, we have a very specific view that &#8216;Is this just the right way to run the event?&#8217; and from the perspective of holistically, &#8216;How do things balance out?'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span> <\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I wouldnt be so mad about China exclusive stuff if it wouldnt constantly be the best skins, emotes and intros in the game<\/p>\n<p>That Shion skin is better than any Mythic or Ultra skin we have\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BYCA5xTjjx\">pic.twitter.com\/BYCA5xTjjx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nix ~\ud83c\udf83~ (@NixLupus31) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NixLupus31\/status\/2107068711865864271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>There&#8217;s a pervasive feeling amongst international players of Overwatch that Chinese fans are &#8216;treated better&#8217; than they perhaps are. In the past, players in the region would get free skins that were locked behind battle passes or needing buying in non-Chinese markets. In the past few days, these negative feelings have surfaced again; Reddit threads ask &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wvvql6\/whats_the_deal_with_ow_china\/\">what&#8217;s the deal with [Overwatch] China<\/a>?&#8221; whilst players on the dedicated Blizzard forums make accusations about 2023&#8217;s Japanese character, Shion, being &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/us.forums.blizzard.com\/en\/overwatch\/t\/exclusive-content-to-china-again\/1041498\">supposedly claimed by NetEase<\/a>&#8220;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The problem isn\u2019t about players receiving exclusive content,&#8221; suggested one person on the Blizzard forums. &#8220;It&#8217;s about Blizzard blatantly throwing in our faces that they&#8217;re prioritising one region over others. It\u2019s not about the content itself, but the Overwatch devs\/designers\/staff are preoccupied with only paying attention to China as if it were the only relevant player base. [&#8230;] Blizzard owns the Overwatch IP; these changes to exclusive content certainly have Blizzard&#8217;s full approval.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite how Western players complain about their treatment compared to Chinese players, the game isn&#8217;t without criticisms in that region either. The gacha system in Chinese Overwatch is different to the one the rest of the world uses, and it&#8217;s managed by NetEase. It is more expensive, and has a &#8216;pity cap&#8217; (a mechanic that delivers items to you once you&#8217;ve spent a certain amount) that performs differently to the US or Europe, which is seen as more punishing by local players.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">her best highlight intro being china exclusive like ok. what ever. i dont even care anymore. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/15Jmf1EHgw\">pic.twitter.com\/15Jmf1EHgw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 val \ud83e\udec0 (@eipoog) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/eipoog\/status\/2106971050944688620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wy479b\/cn_if_youre_not_lucky_shions_evolution_skin_can\/\">Per one dedicated mathematician<\/a>, you need to spend approximately 1,080 Yuan &#8211; $162\/\u00a3123 &#8211; to ensure you pull the sought-after &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin for Shion in this event. Thanks to its 0.02 percent rarity, you require something like 80 to 90 gacha &#8216;pulls&#8217; to exhaust the pool of available items before acquiring the cosmetic. That cost, as it happens, is exactly what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bilibili.com\/video\/BV1mguC6oEtY\/\">one unlucky player spent trying to acquire Jetpack Cat&#8217;s &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin<\/a> back in August. The upside? Chinese players can resell skins; and from what I can see right now, the Shinon &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin seems to be selling for about 670 Yuan, or $100\/\u00a375.<\/p>\n<p>I reached out to Blizzard for comment ahead of this story&#8217;s publication, but the company did not reply.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"article_body\" data-component=\"article-content\">\n<div class=\"article_body_content article-styling\" data-autopogo>\n<p>Earlier this week, Blizzard released a new trailer for an upcoming event in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurogamer.net\/games\/overwatch\">Overwatch<\/a>. Called &#8216;Defiled Anthem&#8217;, the event features skins and cosmetics for Shion, D.Mon, Kiriko, Reaper, and Emre, with the highlight of the whole activation culminating in a transforming &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin that changes sound effects and visual effects as the match goes on. The only catch? These new skins and cosmetics are China-specific and have not been announced for the rest of the world. This has happened in the past with a Naraka: Bladepoint crossover, as well as exclusive skins for Pharah and Mercy.<\/p>\n<p>Player sentiment, as you can imagine, has been negative: take a look at any Overwatch-focused subreddit or social media account, and you&#8217;ll see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wxyorw\/overwatch_defiled_anthem_trailer_these_skins_are\/\">the same complaints<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OWCavalry\/status\/2106945679222513986\">cropping up<\/a>. But why does this happen? Why does Blizzard put out these skins in one region when it knows fans in another are going to complain?<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/blizzard-admits-it-messed-up-overwatchs-10th-anniversary-event-but-insists-its-happy-with-where-the-game-is-today\">in an interview with IGN<\/a>, Blizzard\u2019s head of development for live games, Walter Kong, explained that the addition of Chinese-only skins is largely because of the studio&#8217;s relationship with Chinese publisher Netease, which handles the promotion and management of the game in the region.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think NetEase has the responsibility of publishing our game in China, and part of their approach is to do things that are specific to that market,&#8221; Kong explained. &#8220;And the approach that we want to take is to make sure that our game makes players feel cared for, no matter the market. And I think we fell short of the mark with this current event, but it does mean that as we look forward to future events and activations, we have a very specific view that &#8216;Is this just the right way to run the event?&#8217; and from the perspective of holistically, &#8216;How do things balance out?'&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"injection_placeholder\" data-position=\"1\"><\/span> <\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I wouldnt be so mad about China exclusive stuff if it wouldnt constantly be the best skins, emotes and intros in the game<\/p>\n<p>That Shion skin is better than any Mythic or Ultra skin we have\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BYCA5xTjjx\">pic.twitter.com\/BYCA5xTjjx<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Nix ~\ud83c\udf83~ (@NixLupus31) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NixLupus31\/status\/2107068711865864271?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p>There&#8217;s a pervasive feeling amongst international players of Overwatch that Chinese fans are &#8216;treated better&#8217; than they perhaps are. In the past, players in the region would get free skins that were locked behind battle passes or needing buying in non-Chinese markets. In the past few days, these negative feelings have surfaced again; Reddit threads ask &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wvvql6\/whats_the_deal_with_ow_china\/\">what&#8217;s the deal with [Overwatch] China<\/a>?&#8221; whilst players on the dedicated Blizzard forums make accusations about 2023&#8217;s Japanese character, Shion, being &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/us.forums.blizzard.com\/en\/overwatch\/t\/exclusive-content-to-china-again\/1041498\">supposedly claimed by NetEase<\/a>&#8220;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The problem isn\u2019t about players receiving exclusive content,&#8221; suggested one person on the Blizzard forums. &#8220;It&#8217;s about Blizzard blatantly throwing in our faces that they&#8217;re prioritising one region over others. It\u2019s not about the content itself, but the Overwatch devs\/designers\/staff are preoccupied with only paying attention to China as if it were the only relevant player base. [&#8230;] Blizzard owns the Overwatch IP; these changes to exclusive content certainly have Blizzard&#8217;s full approval.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite how Western players complain about their treatment compared to Chinese players, the game isn&#8217;t without criticisms in that region either. The gacha system in Chinese Overwatch is different to the one the rest of the world uses, and it&#8217;s managed by NetEase. It is more expensive, and has a &#8216;pity cap&#8217; (a mechanic that delivers items to you once you&#8217;ve spent a certain amount) that performs differently to the US or Europe, which is seen as more punishing by local players.<\/p>\n<div class=\"twitter_wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">her best highlight intro being china exclusive like ok. what ever. i dont even care anymore. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/15Jmf1EHgw\">pic.twitter.com\/15Jmf1EHgw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 val \ud83e\udec0 (@eipoog) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/eipoog\/status\/2106971050944688620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 5, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span class=\"embed_placeholder\" data-type=\"targeting\" style=\"display: none\"><br \/>\n<span class=\"message\">To see this content please enable targeting cookies.<\/span><br \/>\n<button class=\"optanon-show-settings link\"><br \/>\nManage cookie settings<\/button><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/Overwatch\/comments\/1wy479b\/cn_if_youre_not_lucky_shions_evolution_skin_can\/\">Per one dedicated mathematician<\/a>, you need to spend approximately 1,080 Yuan &#8211; $162\/\u00a3123 &#8211; to ensure you pull the sought-after &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin for Shion in this event. Thanks to its 0.02 percent rarity, you require something like 80 to 90 gacha &#8216;pulls&#8217; to exhaust the pool of available items before acquiring the cosmetic. That cost, as it happens, is exactly what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bilibili.com\/video\/BV1mguC6oEtY\/\">one unlucky player spent trying to acquire Jetpack Cat&#8217;s &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin<\/a> back in August. The upside? Chinese players can resell skins; and from what I can see right now, the Shinon &#8216;Evolution&#8217; skin seems to be selling for about 670 Yuan, or $100\/\u00a375.<\/p>\n<p>I reached out to Blizzard for comment ahead of this story&#8217;s publication, but the company did not reply.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home News Overwatch (2026) &#8220;Horrible day to be a Shion main&#8221; &#8211; Overwatch fans aren&#8217;t happy about five new China-exclusive skins not coming to the rest of the world An unfavourable Evolution. Image credit: Blizzard News by Dom Peppiatt Deputy Editorial Director Published on Oct. 6, 2026, 3:25 p.m. 9 comments Follow Overwatch (2026) Prioritise [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,253],"class_list":["post-2182085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-eurogamer-net"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2182085"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2182085\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2182085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2182085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2182085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}