Why Cassidy instead of McCree?
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The Overwatch character formerly known as Jesse McCree was renamed to Cole Cassidy to distance him from his real-life namesake, Jesse McCree, a former Blizzard employee who was involved in the California lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and a “frat boy” culture at the company. The name change is part of a broader commitment from Blizzard to remove in-game references to people implicated in the lawsuit, ensuring a more inclusive and respectful gaming environment.
Introduction to the Name Change
The decision to change McCree‘s name to Cole Cassidy was made to acknowledge the controversy surrounding the character’s original namesake and to promote a positive and respectful community within the Overwatch universe. This change reflects Blizzard‘s efforts to address the criticism and concerns raised by the gaming community and to create a more inclusive environment for all players.
FAQs
General Questions
- What was McCree’s old name? McCree’s old name was Jesse McCree, which was inspired by a Blizzard developer who was involved in the California lawsuit.
- Why was McCree renamed? McCree was renamed to Cole Cassidy to distance him from his real-life namesake and to promote a more inclusive and respectful gaming environment.
- What is Cole Cassidy’s full name? Cole Cassidy, also known as Jesse McCree, is one of the main protagonists and playable characters in the video game Overwatch.
Background and History
- Where did McCree get his name from? The cowboy hero shares his name with Jesse McCree, a long-term developer at Blizzard who was ousted from the company due to his involvement in the California lawsuit.
- What did the real McCree do? The real Jesse McCree was involved in a group chat related to the infamous “Cosby Suite” at BlizzCon and was later let go from the company due to the sexual harassment and gender discrimination lawsuit.
- Why was McCree fired? The real Jesse McCree left Blizzard after his name surfaced in the California lawsuit over sexual discrimination and harassment at the gaming giant.
Character Background
- Why did McCree join Overwatch? In an Overwatch sting operation at Route 66, McCree was captured alongside several other gang members and was given the option to become a member of Blackwatch rather than going to prison.
- What is McCree’s role in Overwatch? McCree is a damage hero who uses his gunslinging skills to take down enemies and protect his teammates.
- Is McCree a sniper? McCree is a bit of a sniper who draws on a single enemy from a distance, while relying on his wits and scrappiness if someone gets up close to him.
Community and Reception
- How did the community react to the name change? The community generally supported the name change, seeing it as a positive step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful gaming environment.
- What other changes has Blizzard made? Blizzard has made several changes to address the criticism and concerns raised by the gaming community, including the removal of in-game references to people implicated in the lawsuit.
- What is the significance of the name Cole Cassidy? The name Cole Cassidy comes from American train and bank robber and the leader of a gang of criminal outlaws known as the “Wild Bunch” in the Old West.
Other Characters and Comparisons
- Who is the youngest human in Overwatch? Among the Overwatch heroes, the youngest human hero is Illari (18) and the youngest non-human is Orisa (1).
- Who is the youngest girl in Overwatch? Orisa is actually the youngest hero in Overwatch, and a lot of players typically assume it’s D.Va, but Orisa is actually the youngest character.
- Why was Mei removed from OW2? Mei was temporarily disabled in OW2 due to a bug with her Ice Wall ability that allowed heroes to reach unintended locations when used with their abilities.