Overwatch 2 has entered its fourth season of content, and with it, Blizzard has introduced a treasure trove of things for players to enjoy. With new space opera-inspired skins, the fan-created Talantis map, and support hero Lifeweaver, Season 4 looks to be one of the most exciting updates to Overwatch 2 yet. The surprises don't stop there, as Blizzard also revealed a full in-game event for Pride month starting June 1. This is the first time the inclusive game has dedicated a whole event to Pride, and all eyes are on what it will include.
Blizzard tends to go all-out with its in-game celebrations, and the Pride event in Overwatch 2 will likely be no exception. Overwatch already has a strong connection to the LGBTQ+ community, with a handful of its characters identifying as queer in some way. Overwatch 2's newest hero, Lifeweaver, was immediately confirmed to be pansexual at launch, and in-game dialogue between Lifeweaver and Baptiste may suggest the latter is queer as well. Blizzard seems poised to give the LGTBQ+ community ample and deserved representation with this event, and there are more than a few ways it might accomplish that.
Overwatch 2 Map Changes and Character Skins for Pride
Blizzard announced its Pride event with an image showing in-game flag poles sporting the Progress Pride flag. It's likely that many of Overwatch 2's maps will see aesthetic changes in celebration of Pride, as previous events have seen Blizzard completely alter the appearance of maps. One fan-favorite that's likely to receive some changes is King's Row, as Tracer is confirmed to be a lesbian in Overwatch lore, with her living alongside her girlfriend Emily in the city. This decoration could include an assortment of Pride flags, balloons, banners, and more to dress up King's Row and other maps for the event.
New skins are also an expectation for just about any Overwatch 2 event, and it's safe to assume the Pride event will include a few. While the creativity of Blizzard seems to know no bounds, some likely skins include one for each LGBTQ+ character based on their specific flags. Tracer could have a skin with colors based on the lesbian pride flag, Soldier 76 could get one for the trans-inclusive gay men's pride flag, and there could be a new Lifeweaver skin based on the pansexual pride flag. These skins would be a great way for players to show their pride, and it could help solidify each hero's queerness in the lore.
New Lore for Overwatch 2's Pride Event
On the topic of lore, Overwatch 2's Pride event could be an opportunity for Blizzard to add more depth to its heroes by delving into some of their unknown sexual orientations. Many fans have theorized on whether some characters are queer or not since the original Overwatch released years ago, and the upcoming Pride event gives the developer an opportunity to provide answers. Baptiste's interactions with Lifeweaver already suggest the longtime support hero may be queer, and there's no reason why Blizzard can't add similar interactions between other established characters.
Many of Blizzard's employees are part of the LGBTQ+ community, so it's safe to assume Overwatch 2's Pride event will be handled with the care it deserves. It will likely be a few weeks until the developer is ready to reveal all the content included in the event, but Blizzard has proven how thoughtful it can be with Overwatch content. For now, Overwatch 2 players will just have to enjoy the space opera-inspired Starwatch event and wait until Blizzard is ready to begin the in-game celebration of the LGBTQ+ community.
Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
