Blizzard to Rename Overwatch Hero McCree After Controversy

It’s not typically that real-world occasions can have an effect on a recreation’s world, however that’s precisely what is going on over at Blizzard. Given the latest turmoil on the firm due to the lawsuits, alleged abuse, and firings, Blizzard is renaming the Overwatch hero McCree due to his namesake. Blizzard is even going to keep away from naming any of its future characters after real-world folks.

Jesse McCree, the cowboy hero that’s been within the on-line multiplayer recreation since its launch, was named after the Blizzard lead designer of the identical title. As acknowledged in a Wired video, the staff selected that title after failing to provide you with one thing else that caught. However that real-life McCree was lately a part of the a number of allegations leveled at Blizzard. McCree appeared within the notorious “Cosby Suite” picture together with different folks from firm accused of various types of misconduct. He was let go in early August.

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Given the unfavorable connotations of the title, gamers had been asking Blizzard to vary the hero’s title. Overwatch League casters even started using aliases to explain the cowboy when commentating.

A message from the Overwatch staff. pic.twitter.com/2W3AV7Pv6X

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) August 26, 2021

Blizzard lastly responded to the criticisms and posted the above tweet. In stated tweet, the corporate stated it, in an effort to reside as much as its thought of “inclusivity, fairness, and hope,” thought it was “needed” to provide McCree a brand new title to “higher [represent] what Overwatch stands for.”

The developer didn’t give any potential names, however did clarify that it’s pondering laborious in regards to the change in order that it suits effectively with the lore so it’d take a while. Blizzard additionally in all probability has rerecord a ton of voice traces and alter in-game information to replicate the brand new title, too, all of which can take time. The cowboy was apparently imagined to be a giant a part of an upcoming story in September, however Blizzard is delaying that narrative arc to make these adjustments.

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The Overwatch staff then acknowledged its dedication to having a “future price combating for” and that its actions on these sorts of subjects communicate louder than phrases.