A Nonbinary Hero Is Coming to Overwatch 2 in 2024
Blizzard Entertainment
The team-based online shooter Overwatch 2 is getting a new nonbinary hero named Venture who carries a big drill.
Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of the popular multiplayer game, announced Venture as one of a roster of new heroes at its annual BlizzCon last Friday, as Kotaku reported. Not much is known about the character beyond the concept art and a short sneak peak at gameplay, which revealed Venture can use their drill to dash underground.
But it didn’t take long for eagle-eyed fans to get major nonbinary vibes from the heavy-machinery wielding character. When a fan asked Overwatch 2 character technical artist Ana Martínez about Venture’s pronouns, Martínez confirmed that the character’s “pronouns are they/them.” Another fan pointed out that a patch on Venture’s jacket appears to incorporate the colors of the Nonbinary Pride flag.
Fans have already taken a liking to Venture, with several X users already posting fan art of the character.
This marks Overwatch 2’s second character to enter the game already established as LGBTQ+, according to The Gamer. The first was the hunky scientist Lifeweaver, who was announced in April, and was confirmed as pansexual from the time of his reveal. At the time, Overwatch’s narrative designers said in a Kotaku interview that they wanted make Lifeweaver’s sexuality “part of his core character.” Much to players’ delight, that has meant some flirty exchanges with support hero Baptiste, who has also been confirmed as bisexual. Other Overwatch characters, such as Phara, Tracer, and Soldier: 76, were confirmed to be queer after being added to the game.
Although Blizzard’s games might be getting more diverse, parent company Activision Blizzard has faced multiple allegations that it is a toxic, anti-LGBTQ+ workplace. In July 2021, the state of California sued the company alleging a culture of “constant sexual harassment” and gender-based discrimination. In June, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick denied that the company had systemic issues with harassment and instead blamed a “very aggressive labor movement working hard to try and destabilize the company.” That lawsuit remains ongoing.
Last year, in a separate lawsuit over reports of sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reached an $18 million settlement with Activision Blizzard.
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