Overwatch China says players “cherish” Anran’s current look as Blizzard plans to modify her
NetEase-run Overwatch China has responded to Blizzard’s decision to modify Anran’s image after backlash from some fans and the hero’s voice actor.
Anran, one of Overwatch’s five new heroes, was first revealed in an animated trailer for her brother, support hero Wuyang, but appeared much different when she debuted as an actual character.
Many fans, and Anran’s English voice actor, Twitch streamer Fareeha Andersen, demanded Blizzard modify the design. Andersen argued that Anran’s original comic and cinematic design created the expectation that Overwatch would push back against what she sees as today’s harmful beauty ideals.
She pointed to the rise of so-called “Ozempic chic” and the trend toward ultra-thin, sharply contoured facial features as examples of the standards she believes dominate modern media.
Amid the discussion, Overwatch Game Director announced plans to edit the hero’s appearance, but this caused more backlash as the Chinese OW account revealed that fans in that region were opposed to such changes.
Overwatch China speaks out amid Blizzard’s plans to update Anran’s appearance
In a post on Weibo, the NetEase-run account spoke out about Blizzard’s plans to update the hero design.
“We have always felt proud of the addition of another Chinese hero, Anran, and have deeply appreciated the love and sincere feedback from the Chinese player community since her debut,” they said.
“We understand that aesthetic preferences are rooted in different cultural backgrounds and personal perceptions. We have consistently communicated to the Blizzard team that Chinese players recognize and cherish Anran’s current image, and we will continue to ensure that these voices are fully heard in all subsequent discussions.”
The Overwatch China operations team stated that their role goes beyond simply passing on player feedback and that they actively participate in the appearance adjustment process, based on a deep understanding of Chinese players’ sentiments.
They emphasized that Anran’s final visual design must take multiple perspectives into account. If any adjustments are ultimately decided, the team will stay deeply involved in her ongoing visual optimization to protect the qualities and spirit that resonate with the community.
“As a young hero who has just stepped out of school, Anran is brave and resilient, unafraid of challenges — a spirit that also carries our shared expectations. We believe that sincere communication and unified values will guide Overwatch toward a better future,” they concluded.
Blizzard has indicated that an edit to Anran would come later in Season 1, but Game Director Aaron Keller noted that hero models are “incredibly complicated” and the team needs to test out what they can do.
We’ll have to see if the devs continue with their plans to change the hero’s design, or if the comments from Chinese fans are enough to make Blizzard rethink their decision.
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