I really hate items being retired or even soft retired and I'm incredibly disappointed that that seems to be the plan for the icerun sets. I hate the soft retiring on Flight Rising and their system with the joxar boxes, please don't bring that here and let us enjoy the items fully. Especially with how expensive the items are in the shop, I'm not expecting to even be able to get one if each for the apparel sets this year and I'd hate to not be able to catch up on it next year.

edit: I can't make anyone but I do ask that people don't throw around the word elitism, I feel like it's unnecessarily disrespectful and doesn't add anything valuable to the conversation.

Disagree!

I am already dissapointed that it seems no Icerun items will retire permanently but soft retire is good option to compromise both sides. Retired items givins some spice to collectors like me. I love collecting them on Flight Rising and Goatlings, even tho I started playing years after those sites were open so I don't have many early exclusive items. Having goal to collect them is great thing on it's own. Being the one who gets all the stuff because of playing from the beginning is great too.

So please respect us, retiring enthusiast (because I am sure I am not the only one). Soft retire is our only hope right now.

@Vissyn It is really worth it! Why being here at the right time is "unfair advantage"? I see it more like reward for that matter. Collecting retiring items gives huge feel of accomplishment. What's the value of item you can get anyway by just waiting a year?

Overwatch 1 is good example: in the first editions of this game seasonal events we were getting limited skins. Many people was sure those skins will never come back so we felt like we should grind for them as much as we can and is was great! ...Until next year all those skins came back and suddenly many people wasn't feel the need to grind them anymore. No need to play during event after few matches because I can just wait a year and get it then. Suddenly there was no value to those skins. Just another pretty thing. Not to mention nobody was buying chests anymore so Blizzard doesn't made money on the game and gone full pay to get anything in Overwatch 2. But browser pet sites are not best place for whales so real money argument is not valid here but...it gives you idea, right?

I don't mean nobody will grind events on Lorwolf when items doesn't ritiring, just trying to show you my perspective on the value of retiring items and how it drives interest.

In Overwatch you had to play too. Yes, those with money just bought chests but most people grinded matches for those skins. So it is very good example.

Retired items are reward for your time.

I have to agree with much of the sentiment here. Seeing the prices on the items for the holiday already made my jaw drop, but on top of that they're soft-retiring after a single year? There's no way casual players are ever going to be able to get one of each item, let alone multiples of their favorites! That is beyond disappointing, especially given the limited apparel selection available from the site and not custom usermade.

I have mixed feelings on this one. I think placing items behind a "you had to be there" wall isn't great, with few exceptions- grand openings, anniversaries, stuff like that. Seasonal events shouldn't partake. I do think they should be more difficult to obtain in subsequent events, but I have never been a fan of soft retiring items, especially when there is so many of them at such a high price.

Curious to see the price breakdown on getting tickets. How many hours would it take to get one of every item?

I like @AbyssalRuin 's idea of having them be in a separate shop tab in future events. I can get behind them having a slightly increased cost in subsequent releases (as in prices are increased once and stay that way in perpetuity) but as the system stands now it seems too harsh.

If it was maybe one piece/set of apparel or commemorative profile decorations/banners, maybe I could see that making sense.