Overwatch’s McCree Gets His New Name Following the Firing of His Namesake

The explosive discrimination lawsuit filed against Activision Blizzard earlier this year has generated enough of fallout, with ane of the more than peculiar ramifications being the changing of some grapheme names inspired by real-life devs swept upwardly in the controversy. Most notably is Overwatch'due south McCree, named later on Jesse McCree, who was fired by Blizzard after a photo featuring him and others posing in the infamous "Cosby Suite" at BlizzCon 2013 circulated. Blizzard promised they'd rename McCree as function of a new policy of not naming characters after real people, and at present they've delivered.

From now on, McCree will be known as "Cole Cassidy." In a tweet, Blizzard seems to imply that the in-universe reason for the alter is that Cole Cassidy was the grapheme's original name. I'g not sure an in-universe explanation is really necessary, but sure, I estimate that works.

Meet Cole Cassidy.

Rides into Overwatch October 26. motion-picture show.twitter.com/CT6PmaNXNs

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 22, 2021

The first matter a renegade loses is their name, and this i gave upwardly his long ago. Running from his past meant running from himself, and each passing year only widened the split between who he had been and what he had become. But in every cowboy'south life, there comes a time when he has to stop and make a stand. To make this new Overwatch amend -- to brand things right -- he had to be honest with his team and himself. The cowboy he was rode into the sunset and Cole Cassidy faced the globe at dawn.

For those who haven't been keeping upwardly, California's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) has filed conform against Activision Blizzard, alleging gender-based discrimination and sexual harassment at the Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher. Activision Blizzard's official response to the suit accuses the DFEH of "distorted […] and faux" descriptions and insists the picture painted is "is not the Blizzard workplace of today." An open letter objecting to the official response was signed by thousands of electric current and former Acti-Blizz employees, leading to a worker walkout. Acti-Blizz CEO Bobby Kotick would eventually apologize for the visitor'southward initial response, calling it "tone deafened." Several loftier-ranking Blizzard employees, including former president J. Allen Brack and Diablo Four and World of Warcraft team leaders have resigned or been fired, leading to some of the same name changes. The story has even attracted the attention of the US Federal Regime, with the Securities and Substitution Committee (SEC) opening a "wide-ranging" investigation. Unfortunately, in-fighting has also broken out between some of the agencies investigating Activision Blizzard, including the DFEH and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Then, what practise you think of Cole Cassidy? Could Blizzard accept washed meliorate? The name does have a sure cowboy-ish feel, although it'southward a bit generic. Personally, I would have just gone actually on-the-nose and called him Clint Overwood.