Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch video game to feature LGBT storylines and characters
Gaming company Blizzard Entertainment has revealed that their new update for video game Overwatch will feature new LGBT storylines.
Michael Chu, the game’s writer, revealed the news at a Q&A and stated that there will be more than one LGBT character.
“Like we said, it’s very important for us to have diversity and inclusiveness of all types, and that includes LGBT characters. There are definitely LGBT heroes [in Overwatch] – that’s multiple heroes.”
“We want the stories about characters relationships – and not just romantic, but familial relationships and stuff like that – to come out in the course of stories that we feel really do them justice… it’s something that absolutely is important to us.”
Fans have been hoping that Russian character Zarya will be one of the many coming out.
The game was released in May but has received subsequent updates. The writers decided to hold off on revealing which characters were LGBT so players could get to know them without bias.
Speaking to Gay Star News, Curtis Free from the London Gaymers, an LGBT gay social group, explained why the announcement was so important.
“By having a visible LGBT character in such a popular title, Blizzard is sending the gaming community a message that its game are for everyone.”
“There are a growing number of games that feature LGBT characters as part of their storytelling, and plenty of role playing games that now enable you to choose the partners you wish to romance,” Free explains.
Free states that the update is important because there’s a historic lack of LGBT representation in video games.
“Many gaymers would have lived their whole childhood lives playing video games without ever coming across an identifiable LGBT character.”
“Fast forward a few years and this same gaymer population found itself playing video games online only to be greeted with the homophobic, as well as racist, sexist and outright awful, language that has become all-too-familiar with online gaming.”
Overwatch has been part of the recent production company move that are beginning to portray more LGBT characters in media.
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