Tracer from Overwatch is too sexy – at least in a victory pose. Blizzard is cutting it back.
Too much butt, too much sex
In the hero shooter Overwatch, Blizzard makes a concerted effort to create a wide range of characters and heroes that bring various nationalities, lifestyles, and backstories to the table. The goal has been relatively clear from the start: Every player should feel represented in the future version of our world where Overwatch takes place.
One of these characters is Tracer, who has also become something of the poster girl for the game, partly due to her strong presence during the intro cinematics. It is this Tracer who has now come under fire in the forums from some players who feel that the teleporting Brit is too sexualized. Not in her character design, her lines, or voice lines, but in one specific area: a particular victory pose.
Like all characters, various victory poses can be unlocked in Overwatch, which depict the hero in the event of a win. Usually, a character is just portrayed in a cooler way, but with Tracer’s “Over the Shoulder” pose, some fans felt attacked. The representation is too sexy, puts Tracer’s backside too prominently on display, does not fit the character, and reduces her to a mere sex object.
After a lengthy discussion in the official forum, Jeff Kaplan, who has direct decision-making power over the things that make it into the game, also weighed in. And he agreed with the critics:
“We are replacing this pose. We want everyone in our community to feel strong and heroic. We do not want anyone to feel uncomfortable, unappreciated, or negatively represented. We apologize and will try to do better.”
The bottom line: the “Over the Shoulder” pose will be removed from the game and replaced with another.
Meanwhile, the discussion in the forum continues. Many players lament that Blizzard is bowing to the “Social Justice Warriors” and limiting its creativity. User “Bloodhawk” for example states: “If you had really been skeptical about this pose and unsure whether it suited Tracer, you wouldn’t have implemented it in the game at the start.”
What do you think of Blizzard’s decision?
For more news and articles about Blizzard’s hero shooter, check out our Overwatch topic page.
