The Backstories of Overwatch Heroes: From D.Va to Symmetra

Summary

In this article, we delve into the backstories of several characters in the popular video game, Overwatch. From the routine attacks by massive Omnic in Korea to the emotional center of the Overwatch universe, we explore the development and inspiration behind some of the game’s most beloved heroes.

D.Va and Orisa: Protecting Korea and Pushing Design Boundaries
Reinhardt, Roadhog, Winston, Zarya, and Ana: Scarred Survivors and Tough Fighters
Lucio, Mercy, Moira, and Symmetra: Competent Heroes and Controversial Scientists

D.Va and Orisa: Protecting Korea and Pushing Design Boundaries

In Korea, a squad of mech pilots, including the best gamer in Korea, D.Va, defends the country against routine attacks by massive Omnic every few years. Orisa, a quadrupedal robot, was designed to push the visual design language of Overwatch, but it was challenging to relate to her. The idea of Orisa being built by a young genius AI roboticist named Efi was introduced, which helped to bind the story ideas together. Orisa is still learning about the world around her and looks up to Reinhard, the oldest character in the Overwatch hero lineup who has seen it all and is freelancing around Europe trying to right wrongs.

Reinhardt, Roadhog, Winston, Zarya, and Ana: Scarred Survivors and Tough Fighters

Reinhardt is a scarred character who has had to adapt to survive in a harsh wasteland. Roadhog is an older character who lived in the Outback before everything fell apart, and his home has become a source of sadness for him. Winston is the emotional center of the Overwatch universe and carries the stories and feelings of the heroes. Zarya was created as a strong female character inspired by Olympic weightlifters. Ana was originally a character in the game’s backstory before becoming a playable support hero. She is a tough older female character who evolved from a sniper who protected her team to a character who heals her teammates from afar.

Lucio, Mercy, Moira, and Symmetra: Competent Heroes and Controversial Scientists

Lucio is an older hero who remains powerful and competent, while Mercy leaves the Overwatch organization due to conflicts between her role as a doctor and Overwatch’s militaristic goals. Moira is a controversial scientist who believes in aggressive scientific discovery and was created to fill the need for another support character. Symmetra is an engineer who creates defense mechanisms out of light, and the developers considered different ways to describe her technology, such as photonic engineering.

Conclusion

The backstories of these heroes in Overwatch add depth and complexity to the game’s world and characters. From scarred survivors to tough fighters, competent heroes to controversial scientists, each character has their own unique story and motivation. The voice actors who bring these characters to life also play a significant role in making Overwatch the beloved game it is today.