Here comes a new and interesting message related to one of the most notable video games in the Nintendo Switch catalog. We are talking specifically about Overwatch.
The text below confirms that Blizzard is planning to rename the character McCree. This is because the name of this character came from Jesse McCree, a former member of Blizzard who left the company earlier this month because of his relationship with the harassment lawsuit against Activision Blizzard.
We leave you with the message:
We built the Overwatch universe around the idea that inclusion, equality and solidarity are the pillars of a better future. They are fundamental to the game and to the Overwatch team.
As we continue to discuss how best to deliver on our values and demonstrate our commitment to creating a game world that reflects them, we believe it is necessary to change the name of the hero currently known as McCree to one that better represents what Overwatch stands for.
We realize that any change to a hero so beloved and central to the game’s fiction will take time to properly execute, so we will share updates as this work progresses. In the short term, we had planned to launch a narrative arc in September supported by new story and game content, of which McCree was a key part. Since we want to integrate this change into that narrative arc, we will delay the new arc until later this year and instead launch a new FFA map this September. Going forward, in-game characters will no longer be named after real employees and we will be more thoughtful and discerning about adding real-world references in future Overwatch content.
This will help reinforce that we are building a fictional universe that is unmistakably different from the real world and better demonstrates that the creation of Overwatch is truly a team effort. Work on these updates is ongoing, and they are just one part of our continued commitment to honest reflection and making the changes necessary to build a future worth fighting for. We know that actions speak louder than words, and we look forward to showing you our commitment to making Overwatch a better in-game experience and continuing to make our team the best version possible.
The Overwatch team.