The New Overwatch Comic Confirms Tracer as Its First LGBTQ Character in a Glow of Holiday Warmth.
As if she could possibly become any more of a lovable character, Tracer has been confirmed as Overwatch’s first openly LGBTQ character. The Overwatch comic “Reflections” was released today and in it fans got to share some holiday glow.
The comic focuses on resident speed queen Tracer, but we also see some of the others on the roster enjoying the season. Not only does the comic help to add to the expansion of the Overwatch universe’s lore but what’s more, it throws some wonderful diversity into the mix.
In the comic, Tracer is seen relaxing in London and apologizing to another female character named Emily. It is a classic domestic scene. Tracer explaining how hectic life currently is and Emily telling her not to worry and that she overextends herself. Finally, we see a gift exchange and a warm kiss. The two appear to be cohabitating and later attend Winston’s holiday party together.
Blizzard recently confirmed in an interview at BlizzCon 2016, that diversity is a big part of their game. The most recent character added to the roster was Sombra, the game’s first Latina hailing from Mexico. Consequently, her design style is made to include her culture. We see this with her Hack Ability displaying a Dia de Muertos inspired skull.
When particularly questioned on LGBTQ inclusiveness, lead writer Micheal Chu stated: “We definitely haven’t forgotten about what we said. 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.”.
Blizzard prominently displays Tracer as one of their main characters. She is seen on the game’s cover and has been a popular character and hero choice since the game’s launch. However, the slow release of character information like this is something to consider. While the delay in announcing an LGBTQ character may rankle some, it may be something that is carefully applied. It allows the stories and backgrounds to be revealed in a more natural progression. As a result, this keeps it from feeling like a senseless grab for publicity. It feels more like an organic extension of getting to know someone. In this case, Tracer and Emily. Agreed Winston, group hugs for everyone!
So who is all down for a diverse Overwatch roster? Let us know what you think in the comments!