Particle.news
Download on the App Store
19 ARTICLES
·
5h ago

Blizzard Pledges In-Season Redesign of Overwatch Hero Anran After Backlash

Game director Aaron Keller says the team is evaluating changes with an update targeted for the current season.

Image: Blizzard Entertainment
Image
A side by side comparison of Overwatch hero Anran as depicted in the Elemental Kin short and in-game. A dark-haired Chinese woman with red eyes looks unhappy on the left. On the right, her in-game model is brighter, with a smaller nose, and an overall younger-looking face.
Image

Overview

  • Keller acknowledged player feedback and said the goal is to make Anran read more like the “fierce older sister” envisioned in earlier media.
  • Blizzard hopes to ship the updated face model during Season 1 but shared no firm timeline as work proceeds.
  • Developers cautioned that altering a hero model requires testing for effects on hitboxes, animations, and cosmetics before release.
  • Anran’s English voice actor, Fareeha Andersen, publicly criticized the in-game look as a step back and endorsed a redesign after viral side‑by‑side comparisons.
  • Fans have cited “same‑face” concerns, noting similarities to Kiriko and Juno, and the debate has pulled attention from Overwatch’s relaunch and new‑hero rollout; a streamer earlier said changes were on the team’s radar.