Blizzard has announced a new month-long Pride event for Overwatch 2 that comes with various cosmetics to celebrate the diverse cast of heroes found within the game and let players freely express their identity. The Overwatch 2 development team has stated that this event aims to allow players to celebrate their identity with unique cosmetics and some map changes that will be available starting on June 1.
The game's developers have expressed their need to expand the character identities and relationships ahead of the release of Overwatch 2's upcoming PvE content. This event is just one of many ways that Blizzard will continue to expand the game's lore and characters to provide a refresher in the game's world, with the overall story and lore being expanded over the coming Seasons and years.
To kick off the Pride Month celebration, everyone that logs into Overwatch 2 will be provided with a collection of Player Icons and Name Cards. The name cards will also feature some of the game's heroes, such as Tracer and Soldier 76. Additionally, a new short story will unveil the previously hinted sexual orientation of Baptiste alongside Pharah. This short story is penned by Jen Stacey, and it focuses on the identities of the aforementioned heroes. The game will also have Name Card cosmetics for people like Intersex, Genderfluid, Asexual, Aromantic, and other crowds that are part of the LGBT+ movement. The icons will also feature several flags that are meant to represent Pride.
The month-long Overwatch 2 event will also come with a few cosmetic changes on the game's maps reflecting the game's Pride Month festivities. A new spray featuring Tracer and her partner Emily will also be available for Tracer mains to equip. This picture can also be found in an updated version of Watchpoint: Gibraltar, which will also be available during Pride Month.
It's worth noting that this event's cosmetics will be added to every player's account from June 1 onwards, alongside every future account that is created for the game. Blizzard will also have Pride-themed apparel available for purchase in their Gear Store, with net proceeds from the sales going to the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). With all of this, the development team hopes that players will find a new way to express their identity while celebrating the Overwatch 2 heroes that have stood out throughout the years with it.
Overwatch 2 is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
Source: Overwatch Team Blog