Yesterday Blizzard released a new short story digging into the lore of Overwatch called Bastet, and the thing that got everyone talking instantly was the part of the story where they revealed that Soldier 76, Jack Morrison, had previously been in a relationship with a character by the name of Vincent.
So obviously Jack is gay. As expected, the scummy part of the Internet was suddenly in an uproar about this and how Blizzard is shoving their LGBTQ+ agenda down our throats and rabble rabble rabble.
Honestly, I couldn’t care less about someone’s sexual preference. Its got absolutely nothing to do with me, or anyone else, who someone chooses to love or have relations with. But I’m not happy about this revelation for one simple reason.
Jack Morrison being gay has ruined my ability to feel represented in the game. Me, a white heterosexual male feels ostracised in a videogame, that’s a turn up for the books.
Now granted, we still have McCree, but I always connected with Soldier 76 and even more so when they brought out his braai (BBQ) master skin. I mean, I’m an old man who likes to hang out at the fire when having a party and smash some beers and he fits that mould perfectly. Soldier 76 has always been the “dad” character in the game and there are a lot of us dads out there who play Overwatch and not to be pedantic here, but the majority of dads are heterosexual.
So, in the end, I’m simply not pleased that they decided to make him gay. Will it stop me from playing Overwatch and starting an online petition? No, I’m not some juvenile idiot who has an entitlement complex about needing games to be exactly what I want. Blizzard has the right to do whatever they want with their game and I have the right to say I think this feels forced and doesn’t add anything of real value to the game.
Blizzard, we get it, you support the LGBTQ+ community – and that’s good. Now can we move on to something we all would rather see and that’s more than one character released every 4 months and for the love of all things holy please fix ranked play.
Last Updated: January 8, 2019
Nick de Bruyne
January 8, 2019 at 13:32
“Hi gay, I’m dad” – Soldier 76’s dad.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 8, 2019 at 13:38
This makes no sense whatsoever. He can’t be gay because he’s wearing socks with sandals.
Dutch Matrix
January 8, 2019 at 13:38
Perhaps this was Blizzard’s attempt to rescue the number 76 after the bad rep it got from Fallout 76?
Guild
January 8, 2019 at 13:38
Agree with Gavin. I wasn’t too happy about this revelation. Feels forced and unnecessary.
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 15:01
Dont think its unnecessary, but yeah, do it better.
For the Emperor!
January 8, 2019 at 15:19
Seems most of the gaming industry is going from social activism to full on SJW. And losing touch with their audience. I can imagine them saying “what, you don’t have a gay friend?” 😛
konfab
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
It is stupid because these are ultimately characters that are judged by their combat abilities, not by what hole they like sticking their gun into.
Dutch Matrix
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
*Pistol
Dresden
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
How would you know?!
Guild
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
XD
Magoo
January 8, 2019 at 14:18
To be fair, this is a short story diving into lore and you have to specifically seek it out after you’ve quit your game. Romance is a story telling genre.
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 14:21
Yeah but I bet articles like this will show up EVERYWHERE, so it wouldnt take even the most casual gamer that much diving to hear about it.
Magoo
January 8, 2019 at 14:28
You’re right. Will probably be talk-of-the-town amongst Averagewatch players.
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 14:54
Depends when last he checked masteroverwatch or overbuff for his quickplay stats to remind people how good he is.
you gotsta be in that top 1% man.
CrAiGiSh
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
for the love of all things holy please fix ranked play.
PREACH IT BROTHER !!!
Ndivhuwo Mogashoa
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
Pffft!! You are right about the greedy part!
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 13:53
Basically J K Rowling telling everyone “Oh Dumbledore is gay” AFTER she’s released everything.
Sure you/they can call it support, but its so forced and so late, that it just feels like an attempt at remaining socially relevant.
Guild
January 8, 2019 at 13:53
Exactly this
Dresden
January 8, 2019 at 13:56
At least in the case of Dumbledore it’s plausible, so I don’t see it as a problem.
This feels way more forced.
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 14:09
Saying that now yeah, its cooled off a bit, but at the time, was totally the same thing, felt like an attempt to stay relevant post book release.
Controversy always attracts attention and that little bit of doubt created a massive backlash.
captastic
January 8, 2019 at 20:19
it couldn’t be further from “forced” tbh
Gavin Mannion
January 8, 2019 at 22:56
How? I’m also a massive Harry Potter fan and didn’t see the Dumbledore thing coming at all. Granted it was a little more logical with the friendships being mentioned in the books but it could still be seen as “forced” quite easily.
Now claiming Hagrid is also gay would be “forced”
Magoo
January 9, 2019 at 09:05
Hagrid is a furry.
Dresden
January 9, 2019 at 10:00
That’s makes so much sense that I’m surprised Rowling hasn’t made it canon yet.
Magoo
January 9, 2019 at 11:10
She’s under the (200 IQ) impression that it goes without saying.
Marigold's Revenge!
January 8, 2019 at 14:06
I’m happy that cis gendered heterosexuals are the minority in Overwatch. I think only the gorilla is straight, which is pretty telling.
Sageville
January 8, 2019 at 14:12
I think Blizzard is fucking stupid for this!
It’s not representative at all!
Where TF is the super camp gay man??? Does he not exist in gaming archetypes???
#GUTTED #WHYAMIUSINGHASHTAGS #SAD
Marigold's Revenge!
January 8, 2019 at 14:12
You realise that gay men aren’t all camp? You’re being offensive!
Matthew Holliday
January 8, 2019 at 14:12
how dare he!
Sageville
January 8, 2019 at 14:14
I’m utterly shocked that you want to deny representation of minorities, is there no space for a camp gay man in gaming???
What has the world become!!!
Marigold's Revenge!
January 8, 2019 at 14:14
No, you’re advocating for a stereotype, and that’s offensive. Check your heterosexual Privilege.
Sageville
January 8, 2019 at 14:18
Tell me they should not be represented in gaming, I dare you!
Guz
January 8, 2019 at 15:04
*Grabs popcorn, buckle up boys,girls and apache helicopters the comments section is gonna get crazy
Geoffrey Tim
January 8, 2019 at 13:12
Boo hoo? 🙂
Imagine what many PoC, LGBT people and more feel about the literally thousands of games they don’t feel represented in.
While I do agree this feels forced, it doesn’t really hurt anyone or change anything.
Admiral Chief
January 8, 2019 at 13:24
Honestly, stop with the social agenda and focus on what it is supposed to be, A GAME to play and enjoy
Society is getting worse and worse
Gavin Mannion
January 8, 2019 at 16:21
So your saying you support persecuting a group of people because another group of people feel persecuted? Genius solution right there
Admiral Chief
January 9, 2019 at 11:05
^^^
Captain JJ
January 8, 2019 at 14:44
I get it. My wife games more than I do, and she can’t always relate to male characters and often just prefer games where she can create her own character…so do I actually.
But this does feel forced…or maybe just something to get a raise? It sure is working.
Mark Treloar
January 8, 2019 at 15:53
Politics + Gaming = Explosions!!!!
Skittle
January 8, 2019 at 22:52
To be fair, the person creating a game/movie/book/series is allowed to model the characters as he or she is most comfortable with.
Imagine a footballer trying to write a story about a cricketer and visa versa.. absolute chaos!!1
BakedBagel
January 10, 2019 at 12:25
Couldnt give a shit about other peoples feelings to be honest.
Stop shoe-horning in talking points because you want people to talk about something different (talking to blizzard not you :P)
Trololol
January 8, 2019 at 13:18
You supposedly don’t care about this and yet care enough to write this with this title, and you play games as a dad? Screw off Gavin Mannion, you’re being stupidly illogical (and as you can see from at least one other comment you’re bringing out the mouthbreathing fascists, so if you’re truly not one of the “scum” don’t write these articles Gavin Mannion)
Dresden
January 8, 2019 at 13:30
To be fair, the Cheddar enjoys having a go at basically everyone. I know it’s a touchy issue, but I wouldn’t take him too serious if I were you.
HvR
January 8, 2019 at 13:38
Will take Trololol even less seriously, that comment is the only comment in the last 3 months that isn’t Fuck off, Fuck you or this gem Fuck off you piece of shit.
Sageville
January 8, 2019 at 14:06
Take your own advice maybe?
#1 Sword Art Online Fan
January 8, 2019 at 15:19
Where did Uncle Gavin touch you? Please show us.
Gavin Mannion
January 8, 2019 at 16:24
You misread the article, you can read it again.
I don’t care about people’s sexuality, I care that they broke my connection to the game
Original Heretic
January 8, 2019 at 13:41
How much meh can one issue cause in me?
About this much. Meh.
Magoo
January 8, 2019 at 14:31
I am actually not sure as a human what to make of this article or situation or anything really. I’m going back to Rocket League bye have a good time
GooseZA
January 8, 2019 at 16:31
ROCKET LEAAAAAGGUUEE!!
Dutch Matrix
January 8, 2019 at 14:38
To be honest, lore in a game like this buggers me buggerall. This is akin to wondering who Doomguy dated in Friends. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/5f64f3112c73e8269a2ba496bd033253198862d04771ec8ac1859d9bb7e8a891.png
For the Emperor!
January 8, 2019 at 15:07
“I think this feels forced” – I dislike it when they “suddenly” reveal a character as LGBTQ+. If there were hints in the past, something different. No issue with the gay Batwoman, no issue with the sexuality of Lucifer in the series. No issue with so many “not straight” characters in TV. In the end people and characters can be whatever, it does not and should not bother me unless it goes against established lore from the source material (example would be Bruce Wayne being gay). But we are going into a time in the “western world” where any White CIS Male is to be hated and ostracised, unless they are an “ally”.
#1 Sword Art Online Fan
January 8, 2019 at 15:16
It’s not like Overwatch isn’t gay already, now the soldier is gay? Blizzard is like that old guy who uses reddit memes and teenage slang. They’re completely out of touch. Gay is over. No one cares any more.
For the Emperor!
January 8, 2019 at 15:25
“So obviously Jack is gay.” – a relationship with a man does not make one gay. There is more than one sexuality that would include that. It is “LGBTQ+” for a reason.
Dutch Matrix
January 8, 2019 at 16:12
So a man likes another man and the other man feels the same way about our man and that makes them NOT gay? So you mean the guy is bisexual? That could make sense.
For the Emperor!
January 8, 2019 at 16:38
Exactly, could be.
Sageville
January 8, 2019 at 17:10
It’s hard out there…. all those Jason Momoa pics flying around….
Kromas
January 8, 2019 at 16:00
I would have been far more pissed off if 76 was turned into a Overwatch Mobile (it is coming) exclusive character.
SagatatiaRZA
January 8, 2019 at 17:07
If anything it seems offensive towards the LGBTQ+ community to use sexuality to gain popular opinion or make your game a talking point– especially around the time your company and its affiliates (fuck you Activision) are under extreme scrutiny. I mean if you really have to do this whole lore thing with a multiplayer only game, pick your timing better? Idk. The entire lore is so damn unnecessary.
captastic
January 8, 2019 at 20:20
what a weird article.
Dresden
January 9, 2019 at 06:51
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/f351c7c629a4df2d8e9399753fe299eccd50e67d849ce4f1541ba5fa53622788.jpg
Gardos
January 9, 2019 at 09:39
Lol. As if white heterosexual males aren’t already well represented in video games. This is classic “old man shakes fist at clouds” stuff.
Ulu
January 10, 2019 at 00:21
As a non-straight person I don’t like Soldier 76 being gay
Jackie
January 11, 2019 at 00:05
So lemme get this right, all this time you played as him, connected, had fun and kicked ass with him, now he’s gay and all of that goes out the window? Its like being best friends with someone for 10 years and after they tell you that they’re gay, you throw it all away cause you obviously hated him for 10 years. You say it doesn’t matter, but it matters so much you made a whole article how you cant stand someone all of the sudden. Its pathetic, and shallow and your reasoning is s***. But thats just imo too.
solarlola
February 17, 2019 at 06:09
Its gross