Overwatch 2’s Cowboy Bebop pores and skin for Cassidy is getting flak from followers

Blizzard Leisure’s collaboration with anime studio Dawn to convey the world of Cowboy Bebop to Overwatch 2 was met with nice enthusiasm when it was first revealed in its stylized, animated type. However when Blizzard launched a full take a look at the in-game skins for Cassidy, Ashe, Mauga, Sombra, and Wrecking Ball, a dose of actuality set in.

It was actually one character particularly who stood out: Cole Cassidy, the outlaw cowboy beforehand referred to as McCree, who was dressed up as Cowboy Bebop’s Spike Spiegel. The animated promise of that crossover seemed like an ideal match. However the in-game mannequin of Cassidy dressed up Spike seems quite a bit much less interesting, no less than in comparison with the authentic idea artwork.

Picture: Blizzard Leisure

It’s widespread for 3D character fashions to deviate considerably from 2D ideas. In 2D, artists don’t must concern themselves with decreased element or hitboxes. Cassidy’s not almost as lithe or as younger wanting as Spike.

However response to the in-game fashions from the Overwatch neighborhood was swift and extremely unkind to Mr. Cassidy. “I simply know the devs had been crying making an attempt to duplicate Spike’s hair in 3D, bro,” reads a prime touch upon the Overwatch subreddit. “All of them look good aside from Spike,” reads one other. “It’s like Cass ate a bee proper earlier than they had been meant to go to the con.”

Overwatch gamers additionally identified how bizarre Mauga seems as Jet Black. Usually, Mauga sports activities an enormous mane of jet black hair (with a outstanding white streak) that helps outline his extensive silhouette. However as Jet Black, Mauga adopts the anime character’s baldness.

Nonetheless, it’s Cassidy who’s getting probably the most detrimental consideration on social media platforms like X and TikTok.

One apparent design alternative Overwatch 2 gamers are taking concern with is Cassidy’s hair, which, within the authentic animated trailer, was coated by a hat. Unusually, Cassidy’s Spike pores and skin in-game doesn’t characteristic a hat, regardless of the character sporting one amongst of his different skins.

Overwatch 2 artwork director Dion Rogers instructed ComicBook.com that the bizarre option to make Cassidy go hatless was supposed to extra carefully match the look of Spike Spiegel.

“That was one thing that we went forwards and backwards on how he would really feel silhouette-wise,” Rogers mentioned. “There’s lots of gameplay selections after we take away one thing from a hero. However to actually seize the Spike and have that hero really feel like they’re them or cosplaying as them. We selected to take away his hat.”

Rogers factors out an essential design alternative in that quote, noting that Overwatch 2’s characters are “cosplaying.” That’s not presupposed to be Spike Spiegel on the planet of Overwatch, however Cole Cassidy dressed up as him. The identical was true of Blizzard’s One Punch Man collab for Overwatch 2, which helps clarify why the heroes of Overwatch seem like, nicely, themselves and never nearer to their anime inspirations.

It’s a design alternative that can stay constant, the sport’s artists say.

“[Overwatch] desires to maintain the identification [and] artstyle of the characters by way of the varied collabs, one thing different IPs will not be all the time so involved with,” mentioned Overwatch 2 principal artist Mike Hardison on X, in response to suggestions in regards to the Cowboy Bebop character skins. “That’s our line within the sand.”

Overwatch 2’s Cowboy Bebop crossover is now dwell in recreation.