The new moniker is meant to distance the gunslinger from now-fired Blizzard game designer Jesse McCree, the character’s namesake, who was terminated after the outcry over a toxic culture.
With his namesake no longer affiliated with the company, Blizzard has decided to change the name of McCree in Overwatch. An official statement, attributed to the game’s development team, was posted on Twitter.
Blizzard and the Overwatch developers have announced it is changing the name of the hero formerly known as McCree. The hero was named after Blizzard employee Jesse McCree, who was previously lead designer on Diablo 4 but is no longer at the company.
It’s unclear exactly when Cole Cassidy began using the Jesse McCree alias, but it seems to be many years before meeting Ashe and joining the Deadlock Gang. In an October 22 Twitter post by the official Overwatch account, it explains that Cassidy wants to make a stand and begin being honest with his Overwatch team, as well as himself.
Why Is McCree’s Name Changing?
McCree is a sharpshooting cowboy—styled after famous spaghetti western gunslingers—who has been a key part of Overwatch’s roster since it debuted back in 2016. Alongside 20 other launch heroes, he has always been an iconic part of the online game.
The notion of the “Cosby Suite” first came to public attention in July 2021, when a lawsuit was filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
With his namesake no longer affiliated with the company, Blizzard has decided to change the name of McCree in Overwatch.
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