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Topics: Overwatch, no article matching
Content warning: references to simulated sexual assault and abuse.
The Overwatch 2 "sexual harassment simulator" custom mode has incurred complete shock and outrage from a portion of the community who have reprimanded the repellent actions from players in this mode.
In this mode, female heroes run around the map trying to escape the male heroes. Should a male hero catch up to a female hero, then the player must crouch or lie down and allow the person playing the male hero to simulate a sexual assault on the character.
After parents communicated their horror and concern that their children could be exposed to this mode, Twitch streamer Limmy collected a few photos and screenshots of this mode's existence in the game, showing that the mode is popular and trending in the custom lists.
While adult roleplaying lobbies in online games are not a new thing, it is deeply disquieting that there were 82 lobbies for the mode at one point, purely for the simulation of sexual assault against the female heroes. Moreover, these modes are slipping through the moderation net in a game from Blizzard Entertainment, the company that weathered a lawsuit last summer for the alleged abhorrent sexual discrimination, harassment and assault that occurred in its offices and events.
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To really hammer this point home, Overwatch 2's Cole Cassidy had to have his name changed as the character was originally named after an employee who was connected to the despicable claims in the lawsuit. Limmy continued to state that these "sexual harassment simulator" modes have been present even in Overwatch. It is hoped that Blizzard Entertainment improves its moderation tools to ensure that these shameful modes are no more.