Overwatch Season 4: Heroes of Busan launches August 11 with a redesigned Battle Pass that lets players choose which rewards they want to unlock first. Instead of following a strictly linear progression path, players will be able to progress through different reward tracks. Select Battle Passes from previous seasons will also return later in Season 4.
Blizzard revealed the Battle Pass overhaul on August 10, ahead of the new season's launch. Despite the new progression structure, the overall number of tiers and the amount of XP required to complete the Battle Pass will remain unchanged.
How Does the New Overwatch Season 4 Battle Pass Work?
The Overwatch Season 4 Battle Pass introduces multiple reward tracks, giving players more control over which cosmetics they unlock first.
Each main track leads to a featured reward, including Legendary or Epic skins.
Players will first need to complete a short introductory progression path. Once that is finished, they can choose which of the main reward tracks they want to pursue.
After completing all five main tracks, additional rewards become available, including:
- Legendary Loot Boxes
- Mythic Prisms
- Overwatch Coins
- Season-related player titles
According to Blizzard, the Battle Pass overhaul does not increase the total number of tiers or the amount of XP needed to complete the pass. The key difference is that players now have more control over the order in which they earn rewards.
Can You Choose Battle Pass Rewards in Overwatch Season 4?
Yes. Overwatch Season 4 lets players choose which main Battle Pass reward track to progress through first. This means players can prioritize the cosmetics they want instead of waiting for them to appear at a specific point in a linear Battle Pass.
Premium Battle Pass Adds the Tier Hack Feature
Players who purchase the Overwatch Season 4 Premium Battle Pass will gain access to a new feature called Tier Hack.
Tier Hack can be used once per Battle Pass to replace an eligible Legendary reward with another cosmetic from a curated selection provided by Blizzard.
The available alternatives can include skins previously released through the Overwatch Shop or Loot Boxes, with options covering heroes across Overwatch's Tank, Damage, and Support roles.
Cosmetics mentioned for the Season 4 Tier Hack pool include:
- Raijin Ashe
- Mob Boss Junker Queen
- Cardboard Reinhardt
- Sakura Lifeweaver
- Crustacean Wrecking Ball
What Is Tier Hack in Overwatch?
Tier Hack is a Premium Battle Pass feature that lets players swap one eligible Legendary Battle Pass reward for another Legendary skin from a curated selection. It can be used once per Battle Pass.
Old Overwatch Battle Passes Are Coming Back
Blizzard also confirmed that select Battle Passes from previous Overwatch seasons will return during Season 4 through a system called Unvaulted Passes.
The company has not yet announced which previous Battle Passes will be available first.
Once an eligible older Battle Pass is obtained—or if a player already owns the original eligible pass—it will remain permanently available for progression. This allows returning players to continue unfinished passes while giving other players another opportunity to access selected older Battle Pass content.
What Rewards Are Missing From Returning Battle Passes?
Unvaulted Battle Passes will not include some of their original premium rewards.
According to Blizzard, returning passes will exclude:
- Original premium currency
- Mythic Prisms
- Prestige Titles
- Mythic Hero Skins
- Mythic Weapon Skins
Blizzard plans to reveal more information about which Battle Passes will return in its Season 4: Heroes of Busan midseason update.
Can You Complete Old Battle Passes in Overwatch?
Yes, select previous Overwatch Battle Passes will become available again through Unvaulted Passes. Once an eligible pass is acquired or restored for a previous owner, it will remain available permanently, allowing players to progress through it alongside the current Battle Pass.
However, some original premium rewards will not be included.
When Does Overwatch Season 4 Start?
Overwatch Season 4: Heroes of Busan launches on August 11, 2026.
In addition to the redesigned Battle Pass system, Season 4 introduces D.Mon, a new Tank hero.
The new Battle Pass structure gives players more control over their progression and the cosmetics they prioritize, while Unvaulted Passes create new opportunities to access rewards from previous Overwatch seasons.
Overwatch Season 4 Battle Pass: Quick Summary
- Release date: August 11, 2026
- Season: Season 4: Heroes of Busan
- Major Battle Pass change: Players can choose which reward tracks to complete first
- Premium feature: Tier Hack allows one eligible Legendary reward swap per Battle Pass
- Old Battle Passes: Select passes will return as Unvaulted Passes
- Permanent progression: Eligible Unvaulted Passes remain available after acquisition
- New hero: D.Mon (Tank)
- Total progression: Overall Battle Pass tiers and XP requirements remain unchanged