A collection of Tweets about the announced decision from the Overwatch Team to rename their cowboy, which itself is a considerately written statement from that team, that I think are good to keep in mind. Also note that Overwatch League casters have dropped using the name "McCree" on-air and have been remarking they support a name change earlier this month.
From Anna Funk, UX designer for PlayStation:
Two tweets from Anna Funk: "This gigantic undertaking that will take way more time, consideration and hard work from hundreds of people will cost a lot more than a "PR stunt" And it doesn't take away from the efforts to create a safer, more equitable environment. There's no reason to complain.
They are setting new standards that help combat "Rockstar" behavior and worship that caused problematic workplace environments. This is not a bandaid that they're putting over a deep cut. It's one of many stitches that will help the wound heal."
From Rebekah Valentine, reporter for IGN:
A series of Tweets from Rebekah Valentine: "lot of people with some real hot takes about the name change. obviously this can only be one part of the solution but it absolutely has to be one part of the solution. dude was an abuser -- you can't have your game headlined with a character carrying his name.
especially if you were about to release a ton of content about that specific character!!! come on. the OW team clearly made this decision from within -- they can't control what the parent company does about this, but they can make the changes THEY have power over, like this.
the people shredding HR documents and the people in charge of cowboy naming are two different sets of people"
From Adam, Product Support Manager at Blizzard:
Tweet from Adam @.Glaxigrav: "Still AFK but a point here - changing this is important to the employees, and it's important to remove what the name represented with respect to a loved character. This does not alleviate the rest of our demands for a fair and equitable workplace. But this is a good change."
From Jessica Gonzalez, Senior Test Analyst at Blizzard:
Tweet from Jessica Gonzalez: "YOU CAN BE HAPPY ABOUT SMALL CHANGES AND STILL FIGHT FOR BIG CHANGES"
Generally, going through the Twitters for various current and former rank-and-file employees of Activision-Blizzard, they find this to be a change they support and find meaningful as a first step. It's important to keep in mind that this is not a statement from Blizzard.
It will take resources and work to implement (signaling it is not just a PR stunt, think of all the voice re-recording alone, and Overwatch already has a problem booking their actors), it cuts off abusers from being lauded and having positive legacy in the space, it diminishes the toxic rockstar behavior, I've seen hope that it pressures other teams to also break silence to speak publicly and take similar first steps, and it is supported by the people on the ground.
kianamaiart
germansingergirl
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titsay
