Overwatch has revealed a collaboration with Nier: Automata, featuring skins for Vendetta, Kiriko, Lifeweaver, Mercy, and Wuyang that transform them into androids and machine lifeforms from the hit RPG. After accidentally leaking these skins a few days early, Overwatch has officially confirmed this crossover is coming soon.
On February 10, Overwatch literally changed the game by dropping the 2 from its title in what has become a dramatically successful rebrand. Five new heroes, ambitious year-long seasonal storylines, and subroles are just some of the ways Blizzard has reinvented Overwatch this year. Additionally, it kicked off its first collaboration of the year with Hello Kitty and Friends, featuring charming Sanrio character skins for Juno, Mercy, Kiriko, D.Va, Widowmaker, and Lucio.
Overwatch x Nier: Automata Collaboration Begins March 10
Now, Overwatch has officially revealed its second collaboration event for Reign of Talon Season 1: Conquest. On March 10, a new crossover is coming to Overwatch, and this time, the somber world of Nier: Automata makes its way to Future Earth. A total of five new skins will be added as a part of this collab:
- Adam Lifeweaver
- A2 Vendetta
- 9S Wuyang
- 2B Kiriko
- Commander White Mercy
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These skins will likely be available in the cash shop individually for 1,900 Overwatch Coins, in character bundles for around 2,800 Overwatch Coins, or all together in a mega bundle for approximately 6,900 Overwatch Coins. Fans can also expect in-game challenges during the crossover, which will probably include some free cosmetics and Voice Lines inspired by Nier: Automata, along with some Battle Pass XP.
This crossover event shouldn’t come as a complete surprise for most players. On February 27, Overwatch accidentally shared a YouTube Short teasing the Nier: Automata collab for about an hour before removing it. The leak included the March 10 start date and key art teasing these hero skins, but even so, seeing the official announcement is no less exciting.
Nier: Automata is the 2017 action RPG set in the post-apocalyptic world of Nier, which itself is technically a roundabout spin-off of the Drakengard series. Known for its existential themes, staggering visuals, and haunting soundtrack, Nier: Automata quickly catapulted the franchise from a cult classic to an award-winning hit. Indeed, Square Enix even confirmed the RPG had officially passed 10 million copies sold the same day this collaboration initially leaked, and recently teased a direct sequel to Nier: Automata as well.
Nier: Automata is also infamous for collaborating with just about every game out there. Game director Yoko Taro has said in the past that he is a “slave to capitalism” who will “do anything for money.” Overwatch joins the list of over 40 Nier: Automata collabs alongside games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Final Fantasy 14, Rainbow Six Siege, Stellar Blade, and Astro Bot.
Overwatch Collaborations and the Problem of Hero Favoritism
Exciting as this Nier: Automata crossover is, it does highlight a major issue with Overwatch skins. Certain heroes, especially Kiriko, Mercy, and now Wuyang, have gotten an unfair amount of attention in comparison to others. Kiriko and Mercy, in particular, were just in the Hello Kitty and Friends collab weeks earlier, and this is Wuyang’s third crossover appearance since his debut in July 2025 – even without counting his China-only Overwatch x Naraka Bladepoint skin. This problem is even more egregious in the Nier: Automata collaboration, as four of the chosen heroes are supports, with only one damage and zero tank characters.
While it makes sense that Overwatch would make these high-ticket crossover shop skins for popular heroes, it does seem unfair to other less-popular characters. Fan-favorites like Ana, Baptiste, and even original Overwatch heroes like Zarya still haven’t gotten any external IP collaboration skins in the three years since Blizzard started doing them in earnest. Hopefully, future crossovers can give some love to these underappreciated heroes.
- Released
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August 10, 2023
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)
