Overwatch 2 celebrated Pride

Overwatch’s relationship with queerness has been fraught over the years. It has a diverse cast of characters from around the world, but until recently, their queerness has existed in a place of plausible deniability. Heroes would be confirmed canon gays in external media like comics and short stories, but you didn’t see traces of it in the game itself. Overwatch 2’s first Pride event took place in June, and while it wasn’t perfect, it did give its queer heroes and players ways to express their identity without ambiguity. Lifeweaver was confirmed pansexual when he was announced, and the Pride event included a short story that stated Baptiste is bisexual and Pharah is a lesbian, bringing the queer roster to five alongside Soldier: 76 and Tracer.

The Pride event changed the game’s Midtown map into a copless Pride parade, and gave players cosmetics like Pride flag name cards to express both their own identities and that of the specific heroes. I don’t think I’m ever going to change my name card from the Soldier: 76 gay flag. Hopefully, next year we get more, including a non-binary one for Venture, the next damage hero coming in 2024. — KS