Overwatch 2 is finally out on early access, meaning that the floodgates are now open for both long-time fans and newcomers alike. While newcomers are neck-deep in learning just how every hero plays, who's a good pair for whom, and the rest of Overwatch 2's fun little gameplay quirks, long-time fans are busy speculating on the future of the franchise and potential advances in the game's lore. Fans don't have a lot to go off, but they're dedicated, and any minuscule detail could mean a significant change in the lore - with Soldier 76's redesign being the perfect example.
To try and separate Overwatch 2 from its predecessor, Blizzard has given each of the classic heroes a high-res redesign. For most characters, this includes a slight change in color scheme, and a new or tweaked item of clothing. Tracer's now wearing a different jacket, Reinhardt has lost the helmet, and Reaper has some more metallic highlights, for example. But for some characters, their redesign might hint at some upcoming story details, and Soldier 76's new look could suggest a turn for the character.
Soldier 76's Redesign Could Suggest He's No Longer a Vigilante
In the first Overwatch, Soldier 76's visual design had him wearing a white and blue leather jacket, zipped up in the middle, with cargo pants on below. But the defining feature of this original Soldier 76 design was his red visor and face mask, which when combined covered his entire face, leaving only his forehead and white hair exposed. This visual design fits in perfectly with the character's in-game lore.
As detailed in Overwatch's "Hero" animated short, Soldier 76 is currently operating as a vigilante, looking to expose those who brought Overwatch down five years ago. Originally one of Overwatch's founding members alongside Gabriel Reyes, Jack Morrison signed up for the Soldier Enhancement Program at just 18 years old, and he used his newfound strength to put an end to the Omnic uprising. Following the uprising, Jack became the commander of Overwatch, where he remained for the next decade. But as time went on, the public grew concerned about Overwatch's far-reaching powers and began protesting the peacekeeping organization. On top of that, members from inside Overwatch itself began sabotaging it from within, including Jack's old friend Reyes.
Just before Overwatch was due to be shut down, Jack and Reyes got into a fight, resulting in an explosion that was said to have killed Jack. In actuality, Jack survived, and used his faked death to investigate Overwatch's downfall. Now, Jack operates as the vigilante known as Soldier 76, with a mask hiding his identity from the world. While he remained anonymous to the masses, Soldier 76 did receive the call from Winston to rejoin Overwatch, but he refused the offer.
In Overwatch 2, Soldier 76's design remains largely the same, with cargo pants and a military jacket, but there's one big visual change that could have a pretty big implication: Soldier 76 is no longer wearing a face mask. While his visor remains, Soldier 76's face mask has been removed completely, revealing the rest of his face. While this might not end up meaning anything, this design change could suggest that Soldier 76 is no longer trying to hide his identity, which in turn might suggest that he's finally decided to take up the call and rejoin Overwatch. Hopefully, fans will get to find out more about Soldier 76's current state when Overwatch 2's PvE mode drops next year.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
