Summary
Overwatchwas one of the few FPS franchises that started to champion LGBTQ+ visibility in the 2010s, and it continues to make its game and community more inclusive throughout the years. Apart from introducing newLGBTQ+heroeslike Venture and Lifeweaver,Overwatch 2also started to celebrate Pride Month in 2023. It looks like this year’s Celebrate Pride event is grander and prouder than last year’s, with a rare skin drop, collaborations with LGBTQ+ creators, a new comic, fresh merch, and more.
For those unfamiliar with the event, June is internationally celebrated as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, which has deep roots in gay liberation movements in the late 60s. It’s a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, as well as a protest in support of better rights and inclusion for every gender identity.Overwatch 2recognizes this historic event through its own brand of LGBTQ+ Pride celebration, supporting and uplifting players to be brave and proud of who they are.
How to Get Overwatch 2’s Exclusive Pride Drops
Overwatch 2kicks off its first week of Pride celebrations by providing exclusive drops during its Calling All Heroes tournament. This isOverwatch 2’s official esports competition that offers an inclusive space for aspiring pros of marginalized genders. This includes those who identify as Genderqueer, Non-binary, and Transgender. The top eight will compete in a double-elimination competition from June 8 to July 18, 2025, and it’s not just the competitors who will win prizes. The viewers will also be treated to exclusivePride Month 2024-related dropswhen they watch matches onOverwatchEsports’ official Twitch page for a certain period.
Viewers must have their Twitch and Battle.net accounts linked to receive drops. They can do so by going to their Battle.net account settings, heading to “Connections,” and following the account connection instructions for Twitch.
The highlight of this roster of rewards is the Monarch Venture skin.Ventureis the game’s first non-binary hero, and this cosmetic boldly features the colors of the NB Pride flag. Even the name of the skin, “Monarch” is a genderless term for a person of royalty — a fitting title forOverwatch 2’s newest pride and joy.
Overwatch 2 Celebrates Pride With a New Venture Comic
Venture Adventures: Tangle with Talonwas recently released, and it’s packed with action and thrills. The story focuses on one of Venture’s many digs at Illios, whichMauga and his Talon goonsintercept. The hero springs into action with their drill to fend off the invaders and learn why they’re interested in invading the site.
Overwatch 2 Shows Support to the LGBTQ+ Community Through Merch and Spotlights
ThePride festival returns toOverwatch 2’s Midtown. This Hybrid map is once again decorated with brightly-colored flags, confetti, and crosswalks that make it look like an actual Pride parade is happening in the middle of the match. Players can see this in Unranked, Competitive, and a dedicated card in Arcade mode.
Overwatch 2is also partnering with various LGBTQ+ content creators like Eskay and Fareeha for interviews regarding their experiences in the community. They’ll also talk about their favoriteOverwatchcharacters and provide tips and tricks on how to play them. These creators will also be featured in partner streams until June 14. Players who want to support the community outside the game can also get Blizzard Pride-themed merch from the Gear store. The proceeds of this will benefit The Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.
Overwatch 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Power up your railgun and disrupt the battlefield as Sojourn, or yield your axe and command attention as Junker Queen. Battle to take control of a robot and move it toward the enemy base in the new Push Mode. Bring the fight to new destinations across the globe in iconic locations like New York, Rome, Monte Carlo and Rio. Daily challenges and frequent updates mean there is always something new to play.
