The hardest choice for Overwatch players right now might be between Nyan Café, and that other AAA game arriving later this year.
Blizzard's new Ultra Skins may have been designed to turn heads, but for many Overwatch players, it's the price tag that's grabbing the most attention.
The developer recently published a detailed breakdown of its new Ultra cosmetic tier, using the Nyan Café skins for Sierra and Kiriko as the first examples. Blizzard described Ultra Skins as a new category focused on "spectacle", featuring custom visual effects, sound effects, elimination animations, and other extras that go beyond traditional Legendary cosmetics.
While Blizzard's blog post explained the creative philosophy behind the new tier, it notably did not disclose how much the cosmetics would cost. Players instead discovered the pricing once the skins appeared in-game.
How much do Overwatch Ultra Skins cost?
According to an X post by Overwatch content creator Naeri, the Nyan Café cosmetics are priced as follows:
- Nyan Café Skin Bundle: 9,900 Coins
- Nyan Café Ultra (Kiriko + Sierra) Bundle: 6,900 Coins
- Kiriko (Ultra): 4,500 Coins
- Sierra (Ultra): 4,500 Coins
- Reaper: 2,400 Coins
- Orisa: 2,400 Coins
- Ashe: 2,400 Coins
The Ultra Skins themselves cost 3,500 Coins individually, putting them at roughly US$35 per skin and around US$100 for the full bundle. The pricing quickly became a major talking point across social media and Reddit, with players debating whether the new cosmetic tier justifies the jump in cost.
What are Overwatch Ultra Skins and what makes them different?
In its announcement, Blizzard said Ultra Skins were created to give players more ways to express themselves, while also giving artists greater freedom to experiment with cosmetic designs.
Unlike Mythic Skins, which focus heavily on player customisation, Blizzard described Ultra Skins as ready-made premium cosmetics featuring custom audiovisual effects straight out of the shop.
The developer also stressed that the line is not intended to replace Mythic Skins, describing the two as different options rather than a hierarchy. Blizzard added that elimination effects and similar features would not impact competitive integrity, as they are only visible in kill cams.
The debut Nyan Café collection transforms Sierra and Kiriko into Kanezaka café baristas accompanied by feline-themed effects, animations, and companions. Blizzard highlighted features such as cat-themed elimination effects, custom reload visuals, unique sound design, and even cat noises recorded from a real-life pet named Jack.
One of the more personal touches came from senior sound designer Nicholas Yochum, who used recordings of his cat Jack in the skins' audio effects. Blizzard explained that Jack had recently been diagnosed with bone cancer, and that the recordings were included as a way to preserve his place within the game.
The company also indicated that future Ultra Skins may not necessarily follow the same template, with artists being given freedom to experiment with different features and concepts in upcoming seasons.
Why are fans angry about Overwatch's Ultra Skin prices?
The reaction online has been swift, with many players comparing the cost of a single Ultra Skin to the price of other full games.
Reacting to the pricing, X user TeeandaTea wrote: "So they expect us to pay for skins that are worth more than a couple of games now ? such a shame.."
Another player, darlingspoke, compared the bundle's price to everyday expenses, joking that they can “either get the bundle or a week’s worth of groceries.”
The discussion has been equally active on Reddit. A thread created by user RaidenXYae, which highlighted that a single Ultra Skin costs 3,500 OW Coins, quickly attracted hundreds of comments discussing the new cosmetic tier:
One commenter, crunksonata, wrote: “paying 35 bucks just to watch the exact same blue fox run down the lane is actually criminal.” Others questioned whether the arrival of Ultra Skins could affect the direction of future cosmetic releases.
"Considering how mythics have been lacking recently, who wants to bet Ultras are introduced so they could get more money by cutting down mythic quality while selling an even more overpriced mythic with less customization," Crestren said.
Meanwhile, Fukurosho argued that the move could have wider implications for future cosmetics, writing: “If we buy these, say goodbye to ever getting custom visual/sfx on a base legendary again.” Many others replied to this, stating that they should not support this one.
However, many others like Twidom, pointed out that Overwatch whales will support this, predicting that it will be “an explosive success” and that the players will see more of it.
Redditor Raiden127456 even shared that after the update, in the first two matches they played “both teams had a Kiriko with the new skin."
Blizzard has already confirmed that more Ultra Skins are planned for future seasons. The new cosmetic tier was designed to give artists more room to push creative boundaries, but whether players buy into that vision may ultimately come down to one question: are they worth the price?
