Highlights
- Overwatch 2 celebrates LGBTQ+ Pride Month with exclusive drops, a new comic featuring Venture, and a Pride-themed map in-game.
- Viewers of the Calling All Heroes tournament on Twitch can earn the Monarch Venture skin by watching matches from June 8-9.
- Overwatch 2 is also partnering with LGBTQ+ content creators for interviews and offering Blizzard Pride-themed merch to support The Trevor Project.
Overwatch was one of the few FPS franchises that started to champion LGBTQ+ visibility in the 2010s, and it continues to make its game and community more inclusive throughout the years. Apart from introducing new LGBTQ+ heroes like Venture and Lifeweaver, Overwatch 2 also started to celebrate Pride Month in 2023. It looks like this year’s Celebrate Pride event is grander and prouder than last year's, with a rare skin drop, collaborations with LGBTQ+ creators, a new comic, fresh merch, and more.
For those unfamiliar with the event, June is internationally celebrated as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which has deep roots in gay liberation movements in the late 60s. It’s a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, as well as a protest in support of better rights and inclusion for every gender identity. Overwatch 2 recognizes this historic event through its own brand of LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, supporting and uplifting players to be brave and proud of who they are.
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How to Get Overwatch 2’s Exclusive Pride Drops
Overwatch 2 kicks off its first week of Pride celebrations by providing exclusive drops during its Calling All Heroes tournament. This is Overwatch 2’s official esports competition that offers an inclusive space for aspiring pros of marginalized genders. This includes those who identify as Genderqueer, Non-binary, and Transgender. The top eight will compete in a double-elimination competition from June 8 to June 9, 2024, and it’s not just the competitors who will win prizes. The viewers will also be treated to exclusive Pride Month 2024-related drops when they watch matches on Overwatch Esports’ official Twitch page for a certain period.
| Reward | Time Spent on Stream |
| Spring Hammond player icon | 1 Hour |
| Monarch Venture skin | 2 Hours |
| Flower Friends spray | 4 Hours |
| Ganymede’s Meadow name card | 5 hours |
Viewers must have their Twitch and Battle.net accounts linked to receive drops. They can do so by going to their Battle.net account settings, heading to “Connections,” and following the account connection instructions for Twitch.
The highlight of this roster of rewards is the Monarch Venture skin. Venture is the game’s first non-binary hero, and this cosmetic boldly features the colors of the NB Pride flag. Even the name of the skin, “Monarch” is a genderless term for a person of royalty — a fitting title for Overwatch 2’s newest pride and joy.
Overwatch 2 Celebrates Pride With a New Venture Comic
Venture Adventures: Tangle with Talon was recently released, and it’s packed with action and thrills. The story focuses on one of Venture’s many digs at Illios, which Mauga and his Talon goons intercept. The hero springs into action with their drill to fend off the invaders and learn why they’re interested in invading the site.
Overwatch 2 Shows Support to the LGBTQ+ Community Through Merch and Spotlights
The Pride festival returns to Overwatch 2's Midtown. This Hybrid map is once again decorated with brightly-colored flags, confetti, and crosswalks that make it look like an actual Pride parade is happening in the middle of the match. Players can see this in Unranked, Competitive, and a dedicated card in Arcade mode.
Overwatch 2 is also partnering with various LGBTQ+ content creators like Eskay and Fareeha for interviews regarding their experiences in the community. They’ll also talk about their favorite Overwatch characters and provide tips and tricks on how to play them. These creators will also be featured in partner streams until June 14. Players who want to support the community outside the game can also get Blizzard Pride-themed merch from the Gear store. The proceeds of this will benefit The Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
Overwatch 2
Overwatch 2 is Blizzard's free-to-play team-based first-person shooter. The title features some new heroes like Junker Queen and Sojourn, as well as returning favorites.
