Overwatch McCree Name Change Explained by Blizzard; New Deathmatch Map Comes to PTR

Blizzard Entertainment has released Overwatch update 3.30 today on all platforms, and this is a small download, and doesn't include any character adjustments. Read on for the Overwatch June 14 patch notes.

Overwatch players who are fans of a certain futuristic gunslinger are going to have to expect changes, as the upcoming Overwatch McCree name change is explained by Blizzard!

For those unaware, McCree is the name of a Blizzard employee, which, sadly, was one of the people named in the on-going Activision-Blizzard lawsuit.

Here’s the statement released by Blizzard addressing the reasons for the name change for McCree sent via press release.

Hello there,
The Overwatch team has issued a statement regarding plans to change the name of the character known as McCree. Please see their post below.
We built the Overwatch universe around the idea that inclusivity, equity, and hope are the building blocks of a better future. They are central to the game and to the Overwatch team.
As we continue to discuss how we best live up to our values and to demonstrate our commitment to creating a game world that reflects them, we believe it’s necessary to change the name of the hero currently known as McCree to something that better represents what Overwatch stands for.
We realize that any change to such a well-loved and central hero in the game’s fiction will take time to roll out correctly, and we’ll share updates as this work progresses. In the near term, we had planned to kick off a narrative arc in September supported with new story and game content, of which McCree was a key part. Since we want to integrate this change into that story arc, we will be delaying 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’re building a fictional universe that is unmistakably different from the real world and better illustrates that the creation of Overwatch is truly a team effort.
Work on these updates is underway, and they are just a part of our ongoing commitment to honest reflection and making whatever changes are necessary to build a future worth fighting for. We know that actions speak louder than words, and we hope to show you our commitment to making Overwatch a better experience in-game and continue to make our team the best it can be.
– The Overwatch Team
Blizzard has also announced Malevento — a new free-for-all deathmatch map coming to the PTR (Private Test Realm) today. Here’s the announcement via the press release.
Now entering: Malevento. Overwatch’s newest free-for-all deathmatch map, Malevento, comes to PTR today on PC. Explore this Talon base located in Italy — discover the best corners for your Junkrat tires and the best rooftop views for your Widowmaker snipe shots before the map is officially live on September 28.
Check out more of our news and features on Overwatch at our archives here.
Overwatch is available to play on PC and consoles.
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SleepyJoeStoleTheShow
SleepyJoeStoleTheShow
2 years ago

It’s still McCree. Nobody is going to care. Nice job drawing attention to it for the entire player base rather than the fraction that bothered to read the online drama.

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