Blizzard enters Pride Month with the addition of cosmetics and the arrival of two queer characters.
Every year, during the month of June, many companies express their support for the LGBTQ+ community, and the American publisher, bogged down in its takeover by Microsoft, is no exception. However, this is a first for Overwatch 2, and the developers did not skimp on the means for the occasion.
A license that represents the diversity of its community
In the minds of many gamers and non-gamers alike, shooters often convey the image of a macho, cisgender environment. After all, only boys want to have fun with guns. However, over the years, the genre has been able to represent the diversity of players, and Overwatch could almost serve as an example.
Already noted for the diversity of its characters, the game has also managed to give some of them a queer identity. While Soldier: 76a cliché shooter character in both looks and gameplay, came out in 2019, Lifeweaver was presented as pansexual from its appearance. Moreover, Tracer, the very face of the franchise, was identified as a lesbian shortly after the release ofOverwatch, first of the name. Brandy Stiles, producer of the game, is very honest on the subject: Their identity is no secret. She’s one of them, and we want to make that clear to our players. “.
Thus, for its first celebration of Pride Month, the title was adorned with all queer identities. As is the case with many other games, banners and cosmetics have been added for each of them, while the map Watchpoint: Gibraltar dons the symbols and colors of the LGBTQ+ community in a festive atmosphere.
To further mark the occasion, Overwatch developed the story of two of its characters: Baptiste and Pharah. The first would thus be bisexual, while the second is now officially identified as a lesbian. So if they join the growing list of queer characters available in the game, it may just be a habit the developers will pick up in the future. On the other hand, this will certainly not be enough to appease some players, who are increasingly disappointed by the direction the game is taking.
Players in good hands
In an interview with The Vergethe director ofOverwatchAaron Keller, says: We want the game to feel like it reflects what’s happening in the real world. We do it for Halloween. We also do this for Lunar New Year “. Before concluding : ” It is important to do the same for Pride “.
However, online games being what they are, some fear increased harassment towards those who accompany the approach of in-game developers. To this, those responsible forOverwatch announce that ” customer service provides for increased moderation “. Brandy Stiles, for her part, remains confident in the goodwill of the community. ” I’ve seen such beautiful moments come out of what could have been very dark times “, she says. ” I was criticized for having a rainbow icon, so my team rallied around me and we were able to get through this crisis. »
On the other hand, the community will not be able to unite against another major problem: LGBTQ+ messages are censored and banned in some countries. For these, Pride Month will not take place in Overwatch 2. Brandy Stiles explains that ” technology allows us to prevent the distribution of this content in countries whose laws are not tolerant of LGBT content “. And she adds: This helps us protect players who live in these areas.
Aaron Keller, however, remains positive: “ We strive to comply with local laws. And my personal value is that it’s better to be able to engage where you can than not be able to engage at all. »
Source : The Verge
12