Means again in 2019, Blizzard confirmed that Soldier: 76, Overwatch’s grumpy grandpa, is a member of the queer group. The titular group’s ex-commander, whose actual identify is Jack Morrison, is homosexual and was concerned with a person named Vincent a few years earlier than the occasions of the sport. This was revealed in a brief story referred to as “Bastet,” which centered on him and Ana, who had been shut comrades in the course of the group’s heyday. Within the story, Morrison displays on his outdated flame, and it appears like the 2 break up as a result of Soldier was so devoted to the group’s trigger that it put a pressure on their relationship. However the sport itself hasn’t actually acknowledged Soldier’s long-lost love exterior of a sprig of the 2 giving one another the Christian Aspect Hug. That’s lastly modified in Overwatch 2’s sixteenth season.
Blizzard periodically provides new pre-match interactions between its heroes with the beginning of a brand new season and within the large mid-season patch, typically spotlighting a handful of characters with every new wave, fairly than including one thing for all 40+ heroes without delay. And with season 16, which began late final month, Soldier: 76 is without doubt one of the characters to learn. The newest wave features a dialog with Baptiste, who playfully asks if anybody has ever “captured the center” of the grizzled vigilante. Soldier doesn’t point out Vincent by identify, however does say there was somebody, and laments that he hasn’t seen him “in a very long time.”
Baptiste apologizes for mentioning unhealthy recollections, however Soldier says that “nowadays, that’s all [he’s] acquired.” Shot me proper by the center, Blizzard. Thanks for that.
It’s been so lengthy since we first discovered that Vincent existed, some people within the feedback of movies that includes the dialog are assuming it’s about Reaper, with whom followers have shipped Soldier: 76 for nearly a decade. For a number of years, Overwatch 2’s dealing with of queer themes existed in a bizarre place of believable deniability. It got here up in exterior media, however was hardly ever acknowledged within the sport itself, to the purpose the place you would push payloads with out ever as soon as having to contemplate that Tracer was a lesbian or Soldier was homosexual. Lately, Blizzard has made a reasonably concentrated effort to be extra express about all of the LGBTQ+ characters on its roster. 2023 was an actual turning level for the sport, beginning with the discharge of Lifeweaver who was confirmed as a pansexual character at launch. In June, the sport acquired its first Satisfaction occasion, which confirmed just a few extra queer heroes, added Satisfaction flag cosmetics, and up to date the Midtown map to cowl it in rainbows for a Satisfaction parade. Enterprise, the shooter’s first non-binary hero, was introduced at Blizzcon that 12 months and launched in 2024.
