Culture

Overwatch 2 to feature a new non-binary character in 2024

By Jordan Robledo

5th November 2023

Blizzard
Blizzard

Calling all Overwatch 2 fans! More LGBTQ+ representation is headed to the popular game. 

On 4 November, video game enthusiasts flocked to Anaheim, California, to attend BlizzCon 23 – which had been absent from the convention circuit for four years. 

During the event, fans were treated to panel discussions and new information regarding Blizzard’s various titles, like Warcraft and Diablo. 

However, one of the more exciting moments of the event took place at the Overwatch 2 panel discussion. 

During the session, developers shared gameplay footage of their brand new damage hero, Venture – who is the first non-binary character in the game’s history. 

The exciting new hero, who uses they/them pronouns, is a Canadian archaeologist who wields a multifunctional drill that shoots projectiles and digs under the map.

“Burrowing underground is kind of amazing. So they can burst up out of the ground to do additional damage. They move around the map really well,” revealed Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller. 

After Venture was announced, fans flocked to social media to share their excitement over the character’s inclusion. 

One fan on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote: “VENTURE OVERWATCH I AM YOUR BIGGEST FAN.”

Another user commented: “It makes my heart so happy seeing some kind of gender rep in Overwatch. Venture the love of my life… Trust and believe they WILL be prestige 100 with gold gun with a QUICKNESS.” 

Unfortunately, players will have to wait a little longer for Venture to hit the Overwatch 2 universe, with the groundbreaking character set to drop around March 2024 for season 10. 

The news of Venture comes a few months after Overwatch 2 launched its first-ever in-game Pride event. 

“We wanted Pride, in the game, the event that we’re running, we wanted it to feel like the game is reflecting what’s happening in the real world,” Keller said in a group interview with Polygon.

“We do this multiple times throughout the year… for Halloween and Lunar New Year. So, people playing the game can see this reflection of what’s happening in the real world happening in the world of Overwatch.

“For us, this is the start of building upon this event, the same way that we’ve built upon many other events in our games.” 

During the Pride event, players were treated to an array of name cards and icons that represented different LGBTQIA+ identities.

The Midtown map was also updated to include Pride flags, and the barracks of the Watchpoint: Gibraltar map featured a picture of lesbian hero Tracer and her partner, per The Verge.

We can’t wait to learn more about Venture and their Overwatch 2 adventure.