The 2024 “Mercy for a Cause” campaign in Overwatch 2 achieved an astounding milestone, amassing $12.3 million for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). This latest effort catapults the total donations generated by Overwatch titles for BCRF to a remarkable sum of over $25 million since their philanthropic journey began.
It all started back in May 2018 when Overwatch rolled out a BCRF Charity Event featuring a $14.99 Pink Mercy skin, with every penny poured into the coffers of the New York-based nonprofit. Fast forward more than six years, and the Pink Mercy skin made its way back in Overwatch 2, available from June 25 to July 8, 2024, during the latest Mercy for a Cause fundraiser.
The event, perfectly timed with the launch of Overwatch 2 Season 11, turned out to be a resounding success. As Blizzard President Johanna Faries shared with Game Rant, “This achievement is a testament to the incredible generosity of our Overwatch community.” She extended heartfelt thanks to all the players who participated, emphasizing their crucial role in the fight against breast cancer. Echoing this sentiment, BCRF President and CEO Donna McKay expressed her deep appreciation, acknowledging how these funds will propel essential innovations aimed at eradicating breast cancer.
Heading back to the main highlights, the Mercy for a Cause campaign was on the verge of eclipsing the $12.7 million raised by its predecessor in 2018. By holding both the top two spots for the largest single corporate donations to BCRF, Blizzard has made its mark. Aside from the beloved $15 Pink Mercy Skin, players could also embrace the Rose Gold Mercy Bundle during Mercy for a Cause. Pricing at $20, this bundle introduced another Mercy skin with a creative splash: player icons, sprays, and name cards curated by Angela Ziegler and Dani Ellis. Not to forget, a Mercy Heroic Weapon Skin was part of the charm.
A quick dive into Blizzard’s donation chronicles shows an impressive tally: $12.7 million from 2018 and $12.3 million from 2024, collectively steering past the $25 million mark in contributions to BCRF. While not all items from 2018, like sprays and Twitch emotes, reappeared in this year’s campaign, the 2024 selection brought its unique flair to Overwatch 2 players. As of now, Blizzard and BCRF are still fine-tuning plans on how this latest charitable endowment will be allocated, promising updates “in the months ahead,” likely in early 2025.
The 2018 donations had a hand in developing AI tools for enhanced mammogram analyses and simulating predictive models for evaluating the risk of triple-negative breast cancer, among other groundbreaking solutions. Such efforts reaffirm the alliance’s lasting impact on the battle against this critical illness.
