In a significant achievement for charity in gaming, the 2024 Mercy for a Cause campaign within Overwatch 2 has generated an impressive $12.3 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, pushing the collective donations from Overwatch games to over $25 million since they began supporting the foundation in 2018.
Back then, May 2018 to be precise, Overwatch introduced a BCRF charity event, first unveiling a $14.99 Pink Mercy skin. Every penny from these purchases was donated to BCRF, a dedicated nonprofit based in New York. Fast forward over six years, and the much-loved Pink Mercy cosmetic was brought back in Overwatch 2. This time it was available as part of a renewed fundraising effort dubbed Mercy for a Cause, which ran from June 25 to July 8 in 2024.
The campaign’s success coincided with the launch of Overwatch 2 Season 11, raising $12.3 million with speed and enthusiasm. Blizzard President Johanna Faries celebrated this milestone, attributing it to the incredible generosity of the Overwatch community, and expressed gratitude to everyone who engaged in the Mercy for a Cause initiative, acknowledging their role in the fight against breast cancer. Donna McKay, BCRF’s President and CEO, also voiced appreciation, highlighting how the funds will foster essential innovations towards ending breast cancer.
Remarkably, Overwatch has now set the record for both the largest and second-largest single corporate donations to BCRF, with Mercy for a Cause almost matching their previous record of $12.7 million from the original campaign in 2018. This legendary effort included more than just the $15 Pink Mercy Skin; players could purchase the $20 Rose Gold Mercy Bundle. This package offered another Mercy skin and featured special player icons, sprays, and name cards through the creative contributions of Angela Ziegler and Dani Ellis, plus a Mercy Heroic Weapon Skin.
Delving into Blizzard’s history of donations to BCRF, they have consistently shown commitment by raising $12.7 million in 2018, then $12.3 million in 2024, cumulatively surpassing $25 million. Notably, some cosmetics from the 2018 charity event, like sprays and Twitch emotes, weren’t revisited in the 2024 event, indicating that certain Overwatch 2 cosmetics might also be exclusive to this campaign.
Though specifics on how these new funds will be utilized remain under wraps, both Blizzard and BCRF plan to disclose details soon, likely in early 2025. Funds from the original Overwatch campaign were previously allocated to develop AI technology for enhanced risk assessment in mammogram image analysis and to create predictive models for triple-negative breast cancer, amongst other critical initiatives.
As fans of Overwatch anticipate these details, they continue to enjoy the ever-evolving gameplay of Overwatch 2—a vibrant, team-based action game that keeps players engaged with its constant updates, exciting challenges, and unique game modes like the all-new Push Mode.
