Overwatch 2’s first Pride event launches June 1

polygon.com:

Overwatch2’s first Pride celebration kicks off June 1, Blizzard Entertainment announced Tuesday, bringing free cosmetics, expanding representation, and an opportunity to support the LGBTQ+ community. Blizzard is giving players a series of new name cards and player icons, with which they can showcase their identity or simply support Pride celebrations.

Starting Thursday, Overwatch players can opt in to adding cosmetics based on flags representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, agender, aromantic, asexual, genderfluid, intersex, non-binary, and pansexual identities. Blizzard calls this year’s inaugural Pride event “just the beginning of Pride in Overwatch 2. Over the coming Seasons and years, we’ll have more to share as the deeper lore of the Overwatch universe unfolds.”

Pride in Overwatch 2 will also take over the game’s Midtown map, which has been updated with a series of decorative flags and rainbow-hued crosswalks — Blizzard describes the update to the New York-set map as reflecting the aftermath of a Pride parade in the world of Overwatch.

Blizzard is also expanding Overwatch’s LGBTQ+ representation on the game’s roster, confirming that Baptiste is bisexual and the Pharah is a lesbian. Those two heroes join previously confirmed queer characters Tracer, Soldier: 76, and Lifeweaver. A newly published short story, “As You Are,” further explores the background and identities of Baptiste and Pharah — while also obliquely acknowledging the longstanding “Pharmercy” ship between Fareeha Amari and Dr. Angela “Mercy” Ziegler.

While Pride in Overwatch 2 is currently limited to mostly cosmetic changes, Blizzard developers say they intend to continue to grow the event beyond what it is now.

“We wanted Pride, in the game, the