Set off warning: sexual assault and harassment.
An inappropriate Overwatch 2 sport mode reappeared, however it’s not one to get enthusiastic about. The mode, titled “sexual harassment simulator,” was performed sufficient instances that it appeared as probably the most standard over the weekend for some gamers, based on PC Gamer, which noticed the reappearance simply earlier than Blizzard shortly pulled it down.
One other “sexual harassment simulator” was found in October 2022, however each tasked gamers with flattening Overwatch 2‘s feminine heroes (like Mercy and Widowmaker) whereas enjoying because the cowboy Cole Cassidy and repeatedly crouching over their our bodies, apparently, as PC Gamer reported, with the phrase “raping…” till the character in query is labeled “pregnant” as an AI-controlled Torbjorn supposedly fills the position of the newborn. That is disgusting on so many ranges it’s not even humorous, particularly as a result of gamers are pressured to play as Cassidy, beforehand often known as McCree, the identical identify because the ousted Activision Blizzard developer who took half in the controversial “Cosby Suite” meetups.
A screenshot of the customized mode was posted to Overwatch’s official subreddit by person Joyolo13, who merely requested: “What in god’s identify?”
“Lol I bear in mind seeing this every single day in [Overwatch 1],” mentioned Redditor sw1nky. “Can’t say I’m stunned it’s nonetheless round, [to be honest].”
“McCree is again within the sport I assume,” mentioned person FoulfrogBsc.
Kotaku was unable to seek out the customized sport mode in Overwatch 2 because it seems Blizzard took the “sexual harassment simulator” offline—for now. So, it appears the corporate is conscious that such a mode exists however is perhaps having a tough time stopping it from reappearing within the sport.
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“Inappropriate or express content material has completely no place in our sport,” a Blizzard spokesperson instructed PC Gamer when the outlet requested in regards to the first model of the mode final yr. “We instantly eliminated the user-created sport mode as soon as made conscious of its existence. We’re regularly working to enhance automated filters to forestall inappropriate user-created content material, and manually eradicating any that aren’t caught by the system.”
Kotaku reached out to Activision Blizzard for remark.
Whereas that is no less than the second time the “sexual harassment simulator” has popped up in Overwatch 2 particularly, gamers famous {that a} comparable mode existed in some type within the authentic Overwatch sport. On the time, gamers posted PSAs to warn the neighborhood in regards to the offensive content material. In fact, not all player-created sport modes are this egregious. However it’s regarding that this challenge has come up greater than as soon as inside just a few months.