Overwatch character Soldier 76 has come out as gay
Overwatch character Soldier 76, seen here with Ana, prompted joy online by revealing he was gay (blizzard entertainment)
Soldier 76, a major character in first-person shooter video game Overwatch, has been revealed as gay.
A short story released on Monday (January 7) has shown fans that the macho Overwatch fighter, whose real name is Jack Morrison, used to have an ex-boyfriend called Vincent, according to Mashable. This makes him the second queer Overwatch character after Tracer.
In the story, titled “Bastet,” Overwatch protagonist Ana asks Soldier 76: “Vincent… I haven’t thought about him in years. Still keeping a candle lit for him?”
Soldier 76 responds, “Nothing like that,” before revealing that Vincent “got married. They’re very happy. I’m happy for him.”
Ana’s conversation with Soldier 76 led to the revelation of Overwatch’s second queer character (blizzard entertainment)
The narrator then notes that “Ana was unconvinced. In the early days, Jack talked about him often, floating a dream that the war would end quickly, and maybe he’d have a chance to return to a normal life.”
It is made clear to the reader that this wasn’t possible, and Soldier 76 tells Ana that “Vincent deserved a happier life than the one I could give him. We both knew that I could never put anything above my duty.”
“Everything I fought for was to protect people like him… That’s the sacrifice I made,” added the soldier, who comes from Indiana.
“Jack and Vincent were in a romantic relationship many years ago. Both identify as gay.”
— Overwatch lead writer Michael Chu
Soldier 76’s sexuality was then confirmed by Michael Chu, lead writer on Overwatch, who wrote on Twitter: “Thanks for all the messages about ‘Bastet!’
“Jack and Vincent were in a romantic relationship many years ago. Both identify as gay. ❤️”
Overwatch fans were ecstatic at the Soldier 76 news
Many queer gamers were overjoyed when Chu confirmed news that one of the leading characters in Overwatch was gay.
One responded to his tweet by writing: “LOVE YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. This means so much to me, can’t even think of a way to explain it right now. ”
Others wrote messages like “thank you so much oh my god” and “THANK YOUUUUU.”
Michael Chu talks about Soldier 76’s sexuality on Twitter (westofhouse/twitter)
Another fan told Chu: “Thank you so much Michael you’re changing the world for the better!”
Some called for more bisexual representation as well, with one person tweeting: “Appreciate the clarification! I do have to say that some were hoping for bi representation as well, but in saying so I hope it doesn’t sound like I am dismissing this decision. Thanks ❤️ .”
Chu said in 2016—before any queer people had been confirmed in the Overwatch universe—that “there are definitely LGBT heroes in Overwatch. That’s multiple heroes.”
