What was Cassidy’s Original Name?

Cassidy’s original name was Jesse McCree, which was directly named after a Blizzard employee of the same name, but was later changed to Cole Cassidy due to the Activision Blizzard lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a “frat boy” culture at the company. The name change was made to distance the character from the now-fired Blizzard game designer Jesse McCree, who was terminated after the outcry over a toxic culture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General Information

1. Why was McCree renamed to Cassidy?: Amid fallout from the Activision Blizzard lawsuit, Overwatch’s fan-favourite cowboy character Jesse McCree finally has a new name after Activision Blizzard committed to changing it in the wake of California’s ongoing lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a “frat boy” culture at the company.
2. What is Cassidy’s origin story in Overwatch?: A founding member of the notorious Deadlock Gang, Cassidy was eventually coerced into joining Blackwatch, Overwatch’s covert-ops division, and came to believe he could make amends for his past by righting the world’s injustices.
3. Who is Cassidy based off?: While Cole Cassidy is obviously a fictional character, Butch Cassidy was very real, a notorious train and bank robber who ran with a group called the Wild Bunch, with his most famous partner being the Sundance Kid.

Character Background

4. Is Cassidy a hero or villain?: Cassidy is a Damage hero in Overwatch, one of the 21 heroes included in the game’s release on 24 May 2016.
5. How tall is Cassidy in Overwatch?: Cassidy is 6’1” tall, born in the year 2039, and is currently 37 years old.
6. What is Cassidy’s personality?: Cassidy is a calm man, rarely showing intense emotions with an element of carefreeness, although he was once an outlaw, and is always looking to do the right thing, trying to atone for his past.

Game Mechanics

7. How do you use Cassidy’s Dead Eye?: It is worth noting Deadeye is particularly strong when used unpredictably, and it would be best to try and flank the enemy team and use it from behind.
8. What gun does Cassidy use?: Armed with his Peacekeeper revolver, the outlaw Cole Cassidy doles out justice on his own terms.
9. How much damage does Cassidy’s gun do?: Peacekeeper (Primary and Secondary Fire) deals up to 50 damage per shot, with the damage falloff range starting at 20 meters.

Related Characters and Events

10. Who was Jesse McCree?: Jesse McCree was a member of Blizzard Entertainment, the senior level designer for Diablo III, and was also the lead game designer for Diablo IV.
11. What happened to McCree’s arm?: After escaping prison and defeating a robot with a laser cutter, McCree took action as the arm lock had a tracking device, and he ended up losing his favorite arm.
12. How old is Hanzo?: According to the character’s fictional biography, Hanzo Shimada is 38 years old and was formerly based in the fictional Japanese town Hanamura.

Name Change and Controversy

13. Why did Blizzard choose Cassidy?: In the official tweet announcement, Blizzard appears to be acknowledging Cassidy’s name change as part of the game’s lore, referring to Cassidy as a character “running from his past” and ultimately choosing to “be honest with his team and himself” about who he really is.
14. Why is Cassidy so hard to play?: While having a powerful gun, Cassidy’s abilities are considered sub-par as a trade-off to his insane damage output, and his low mobility means that he has no conventional routes to get up close to his opponents.
15. What did the real McCree do?: Blizzard Entertainment says it will rename McCree, Overwatch’s outlaw bounty hunter, after his real-life namesake, former game designer Jesse McCree, was let go from the studio in the wake of a sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit filed against publisher Activision Blizzard.