Collateral damage from the cases of harassment and discrimination overwhelming Activision-Blizzard for a few months, the charismatic cowboy ofOverwatch has a new name.
As a reminder, Jesse McCree bore the name of a Blizzard employee, since dismissed due to his involvement in cases of harassment. A name change was announced several weeks ago, and it is now in effect: the lone cowboy will now be called Cole Cassidy.
"They Call Me (No Longer) McCree"
In the grip of Californian justice since this summer, Activision-Blizzard has since gone into a crisis cell and is working to erase all traces linking it directly or indirectly to cases of sexual harassment or discrimination. It started with the departure of many people like the former president of Blizzard J. Allen Brack, but also with the modification of the content in the games of the American giant.
Among these measures, the most striking example is of course the change of name for the charismatic cowboy of Blizzard's multiplayer FPS. Via the official Overwatch Twitter account, we learn that this one is now called Cole Cassidy.
A two-way justification for a dual identity
Blizzard even split a small element of lore to justify this name change in-game, and we can't help but read between the lines to think that the studio is trying to justify itself and make honorable amends:
“The first thing a renegade loses is his name, and this one gave it up long ago. Running away from his past meant running away from himself, and each passing year only widened the gap between what he was and what he has become. But in every cowboy's life, there comes a time when you have to stop and make a choice. To make this Overwatch better - to make it right - he had to be honest with his team and with himself. The cowboy he was went into the sunset, and Cole Cassidy faced the world at dawn. »
A change that comes shortly after Activision-Blizzard signed an agreement to try to improve working conditions within the company, which has also been very badly seen by the State of California, considering that it was an obstacle to his investigation.
Whatever happens for Activision-Blizzard in the future, Cole Cassidy will officially take his place in the Overwatch ranks on October 26.
