Overwatch may not be the first -- or perhaps the original -- game when it comes to its genre. Well, there's Team Fortress 2 in particular, and it's something that even the diehard fans will agree. Nonetheless, what makes it excel against its competitors is the way Blizzard developed it. Sure, it has a good lineup of characters to begin with; however, they differ so much in gameplay and more importantly, their respective stories.
In an interview with Polygon, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan shared some interesting facts about the game and how the team came up with the idea. He iterated how they have always wanted the game "to be welcoming to a lot of people" while thinking about others.
Kaplan mentioned their goal to incorporate diversity, something that has been a leading topic in the world of today and this is exactly what's happening in the game. From a certain time in the past, players got to learn Tracer's true identity. She actually is a lesbian. Add to this the different culture and race the characters are involved. Hanzo and Genji, in particular, hail from Asia while Zarya represents her motherland Russia.
This may seem to be a unique path for Overwatch, but it's actually been done in other past titles. Take for example Street Fighter 2 (1991). Although at the time it only offered one woman, it wittingly showcased geographic diversity much like Blizzard's. Mortal Kombat, on the other hand, is also an epitome. Some of the characters also hailed from Asian countries like Japan and China.
Interestingly, Overwatch is more keen to represent gender versatility compared to the other games of the past (as most focused on the racial aspect). Kaplan believes that by doing so, they will be able to take on a global approach. More and more players will become more interested, as the game's scope tends to grow. It seems each character in the game represents something, either a culture or a body or whatsoever.
In related Overwatch news, Express reports that Orisa is expected to arrive to Overwatch today. The newest hero will be brought to all platforms via an update. As of this writing, Blizzard has yet to confirm a specific time. This should be expected anytime today, though.
