Former Overwatch Lead Director Jeff Kaplan has been sharing more insights about his time at Blizzard and involvement with the hero shooter, possibly in response to the game’s recent resurgence. This has included live streaming on Twitch and addressing the community’s questions.
One recent question posed to Kaplan was: “Why did you nerf Tracer’s butt?”
Kaplan replied, “We actually didn’t nerf Tracer’s butt. It remained unchanged.”
Why is everyone always talking about Tracer’s butt size?
While many commended Jeff Kaplan for not avoiding important queries, some gamers felt he was being untruthful.
When the first Overwatch game launched in 2016, Tracer was somewhat of a mascot. Players got to know her as a witty, playful British lesbian who was a bit of a nuisance to deal with during the beta. The artwork associated with her character felt flirtatious and alluring, leading to significant backlash. Blizzard, this was not the right kind of cheeky!
As fans continued to criticize her pose, Kaplan mentioned that the team would change it. He also noted they weren’t particularly attached to it. The new pose was more whimsical and light-hearted, still showcasing her behind but not as prominently. A compromise, right?
Nevertheless, the Overwatch community continues to revisit this original controversy a decade later. It seemed like developers were hesitant to cater to their male audience and took away yet another focal point. Many gamers were convinced that Tracer’s butt was reduced in size when Overwatch 2 was released.
The situation was exacerbated when newer heroes were also depicted with less prominent features. Some pointed out the lack of curves in Kirko’s recent skins.
While the complaints may have been exaggerated, a significant number of gamers felt slighted and highlighted that Marvel Rivals didn’t shy away from emphasizing certain physical attributes. This ongoing controversy in the gaming community often involves men dismissing characters that aren’t overly feminine or sexualized.
Overall, Tracer’s physique has remained relatively consistent over the past decade. She’s not meant to have an exaggerated rear end. Just take a look at her. She’s petite. And that’s perfectly acceptable. Besides, she’s a character for everyone. Let’s just let it go.
In all seriousness, it seems like the Overwatch community is just having some fun with this topic. It appears to be a baseless rumor that gamers enjoy perpetuating and turning into memes. But let’s be clear: her butt hasn’t changed, as confirmed by Kaplan himself.
Now, let’s shift our focus back to more pressing matters. Is Anran’s new appearance truly that different?