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Overwatch’s McCree character is no more. Welcome instead Cole Cassidy to the fold. It’s the same character, in case you thought he looked familiar, but with a different name. If you’re confused why Activision Blizzard would make such a change, the reason is simple: McCree was named after a former employee who is part of Activision’s ongoing legal troubles.
Meet Cole Cassidy.
Rides into Overwatch October 26. pic.twitter.com/CT6PmaNXNs
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 22, 2021
Recently, Activision came under fire for harassment and discrimination in the workplace. The litigation is ongoing and has caused a lot of friction between the company, its workers, and its fans. In an effort to make amends, Activision renamed McCree in order to distance the character from a worker who is alleged to be part of the toxic situation being outlined in the lawsuit.
Here’s Cole’s backstory—Activision has worked the name change into the character’s lore:
The first thing a renegade loses is their name, and this one gave up his a long time ago.
Running from his past meant running from himself, and each passing year only widened the divide between who he had been and what he had become. But in every cowboy’s life there comes a time when he has to stop and make a stand.
To make this new Overwatch better – to make 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 world at dawn.
Cole is available now.
Source: Overwatch Twitter Page
