Why did McCree Get Removed?: The Reasons Behind the Changes in Overwatch
In recent times, Blizzard Entertainment, the developer of Overwatch, faced a backlash in the wake of allegations of a "frat boy" culture and sexual harassment within the company. One of the most notable victims of the fallout was Overwatch hero McCree, who was suddenly renamed to Cole Cassidy following the company’s commitment to change.
So, why did McCree get removed? The main reason is tied to the allegations against McCree, whose real-world namesake, Jesse McCree, was involved in the incident. McCree was revealed to have named the in-game hero after himself in 2002, much to the disappointment of Blizzard’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). As part of its commitment to promoting a healthier culture, the company chose to distance itself from McCree and replaced him with the new persona, Cole Cassidy.
The Impact on the Gameplay
Cole Cassidy, once McCree, is known for his Outlaw backstory and the trusty pair of Six Shooters wielded by players. Since the rebranding, Cassidy’s game play experience has changed remarkably little; however, it’s fair to expect changes in upcoming balance updates ( refer back to Article 5 "Assault" ) as well. For enthusiasts of the outlaws in-game hero, there might be exciting new additions in new seasons, for example new skill line, an exclusive for this region, with his guns from the movie." This signifies that although gameplay hasn’t changed (in significant ways) and this move is in pursuit of building a safer over***.
Overwatch Developers’ Reaction and Changes