Overwatch renames its cowboy sharpshooter to Cole Cassidy

The new look rolls out next week

Blizzard Entertainment has announced the new name for the cowboy sharpshooter of Overwatch. The Overwatch hero is now named Cole Cassidy, with an in-game update rolling out on Oct. 26 to make it official.

The character was previously named after an Activision Blizzard employee. They were one of several who departed the company in the wake of California’s lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, alleging discrimination and a toxic work culture at the company. Several other references to employees have been steadily removed from fellow Blizzard game World of Warcraft as well.

Meet Cole Cassidy.

Rides into Overwatch October 26. pic.twitter.com/CT6PmaNXNs

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) October 22, 2021

Employees have organized a walkout and signed letters demanding change from the higher-ups at Activision Blizzard. The Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s lawsuit itself has become even more complicated recently, as the department intervened in a settlement between the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Activision Blizzard.

The new Cole Cassidy will arrive in Overwatch next week, and Blizzard also wrote out a bit of lore to explain, in-universe, the change.

“The first thing a renegade loses is their name, and this one gave up his long ago. Running from his past meant running from himself, and each passing year only widened the divide between who he had been and what he had become. But in every cowboy’s life, there comes a time when he has to make a stand.

“To make this new Overwatch better—to make things right—he had to be honest with his team and himself. The cowboy he was rode into the sunset, and Cole Cassidy faced the world at dawn.”