Is soldier 76 gay

Two years past, Soldier 76's (Jack Morrison's) non-heteronormative identity was explicitly revealed within the "Bastet" short story. Subsequently, however, a conspicuously quiet period has ensued, leaving his narrative within the Overwatch universe noticeably absent. Is Blizzard poised to disregard this aspect of Soldier 76's character, or will the Overwatch 2 storyline introduce a reinterpretation of his past (perhaps rendering "Bastet" non-canonical or recontextualizing Vincent's role as a mere comrade or an inconsequential experience)? Alternative scenarios include an outright omission. Tracer, conversely, has garnered new narrative threads elaborating on her lesbian identity. Why this disparity in treatment? Decisions must be forthcoming, particularly given the departure of Michael Chu. Will Soldier 76's past be retconned?

When, in actuality, was there any mention of his identity within the lore? It seems incredibly unlikely he has ever been featured.

It appears Soldier 76's history has been conspicuously overlooked…

Precisely. This certainly seems to be the case.

The primary focus on romantic relationships in Overwatch seems centred on Genji and Mercy, thus rendering Soldier 76's romantic life inconsequential (especially considering Blizzard's apparent prioritization of Chinese and Russian market share above LGBTQ+ representation). Expect little more than occasional mentions in comics or short stories. The fact that lesbian and bisexual characters also face censorship in these regions makes Soldier 76's position unsurprising.

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One's sexual orientation doesn't necessitate explicit narrative portrayal.

Has the sexuality of any other characters (bar Tracer) been mentioned?

Indeed. The narrative focus on Overwatch 2 characters has been less frequent.

Blizzard made a considerable display regarding Tracer's identity and, to a lesser extent, Soldier 76's. However, Soldier 76's approach felt disingenuous, appearing primarily as a tactic to appease the LGBTQ+ community.

Tracer serves as the quintessential symbol and face of Overwatch…

Absence of mention does not render something nonexistent.

I find it disheartening if Blizzard has intentionally sidelined Soldier 76 due to his sexual orientation. He is a pivotal male character in Overwatch, my first hero chosen in the game; his versatility and value warrant more dedication.

Contrary to popular belief, retcons are rare within the Overwatch narrative. It's unlikely his sexuality will be altered.

There has been no more mention of Symmetra's neurodiversity.

(It is therefore implied she is no longer portrayed as neurodivergent.)

This type of discussion is starting to irritate me.

Why would anyone be concerned? Does his sexual orientation bother you? I find the critique of Soldier 76's masculinity in relation to his identity offensive.

His sexuality remains constant and unchanging. Sexual orientation isn't something one can alter.

Why would anyone be concerned?

What exactly are you insinuating?

The initial question regarding Soldier 76's sexual orientation is indeed the cause for this discussion.

Yes, he is still gay, despite the lack of recent commentary. It's a minor point that doesn't require reiteration.

It's a non-essential detail.

However, there is further documentation. The Overwatch Cookbook (2019) contains a flavour text about a pie enjoyed by Jack with his former partner.

The initial question regarding Soldier 76's sexual orientation is indeed the cause for this discussion.

The concern stems from the absence of further narrative regarding Soldier 76's sexual orientation, contrasting with the explicit portrayal of Tracer's identity in recent stories.

The concern is not that the character's orientation bothers anyone.

Unfortunately, Blizzard's presence in certain regions with discriminatory sentiments necessitates careful management of such content. This is not unique to Soldier 76; most Overwatch characters have their romantic and personal lives minimally explored. Even characters with established straight relationships, like Ana/Sam and Torb/Ingrid (and implicitly Genji/Mercy) have limited narrative. Many characters' sexualities or relationship statuses remain obscure. This is partially attributed to the scarcity of background stories.

This user's understanding is spot on.

The Overwatch Cookbook (2019)

Remarkably, the significance of this information has been previously missed by myself.

However, focusing on Soldier 76's sexuality is ultimately counterproductive when Blizzard seems compelled to conceal this aspect to appease the most conservative markets, as previously noted by another user.

Blizzard's presence in certain regions with discriminatory sentiments necessitates careful management of such content.

There are significantly more pertinent and fascinating facets of Soldier 76's past to explore, such as his relationships with Ana, Reaper, and McCree, as well as Gerard Lacroix and Moira. Understanding his family dynamics (is he an orphan? Does he have living relatives? Were they lost?), and the circumstances that contributed to his choices would be captivating. Instead, his sexual orientation has been highlighted, leaving these other, more significant questions unanswered.

No retcon is expected.

The inclusion of Bastet and the reference to Vincent highlight his dedication to Overwatch and global welfare, placing this commitment above any personal relationships.

The manner in which his sexual orientation was revealed could be considered poorly handled. The intended emphasis was on his personality, not his sexual identity.

However, it is not evident to me that there is a deliberate effort to conceal this information. Given Overwatch's rich narrative, revealing further lore concerning Soldier 76 is anticipated. Michael Chu's stated preference for the relationship between Ana, Jack, and Gabriel hints at future stories.

Overwatch's narrative typically treads carefully. Though frustrating at times, this approach has been well-received, and future revelations on these issues are hopeful.