Jetpack Cat Joins Overwatch After Initially Being Considered ‘Too Outlandish’

Blizzard is set to introduce five new heroes to Overwatch, and among them is Jetpack Cat, a Support-class character with a decade-long backstory who was once considered “too ridiculous” for the game. However, the landscape of Overwatch has evolved since Jetpack Cat was initially conceived and ultimately rejected, making the idea of a flying feline battling alongside Reaper and Tracer seem much more plausible now.

Jetpack Cat will join the ranks as the third animal hero in Overwatch, following the original hero Winston and Wrecking Ball, who made his debut in 2018. Known as Fika, Jetpack Cat will introduce unique mechanics as the first permanent-flight hero, capable of tethering to teammates and soaring across the map. She can also grab enemies, tossing them into perilous positions or even off the edge of the map, promising to create chaos and innovative plays based on my experience playing with and against her.

As a support character, Jetpack Cat’s main role is to heal her allies. Her primary fire, Biotic Pawjectiles, serves a dual purpose, healing teammates while dealing damage to foes. Another ability, Purr, allows her to emit a healing pulse that can also knock back enemies. Her mobility is enhanced by Frenetic Flight, which enables her to accelerate rapidly. All of Jetpack Cat’s abilities are powered by the jet-propulsion rig designed by Brigitte, who found Fika as a stray and equipped her with this flying device.

The concept of Jetpack Cat was first revealed by former Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan back in 2017. At that time, Kaplan felt the character didn’t fit the game’s narrative. He noted that Jetpack Cat “felt like we were slipping out of the universe,” during a BlizzCon presentation where he showcased early concept art of the character that was ultimately shelved.

Initial ideas for Jetpack Cat depicted her as either a heroic special agent or a lazy cat using the jetpack like a recliner. The final version, set to launch on February 10 with Overwatch’s first season, portrays Fika as a curious house cat who treats her jetpack like a toy.

Veteran voice actor Jennifer Hale, known for voicing Ashe in Overwatch, will lend her voice to Jetpack Cat.

During a recent visit to Blizzard, I had the chance to try out Jetpack Cat and chat with the developers behind her creation. Art director Dion Rogers shared insights on why now is the perfect time to introduce Jetpack Cat and how the concept of a flying cat has become more acceptable within the Overwatch universe.

“When Overwatch was about a year old, we were still defining the world,” Rogers explained. “We were figuring out what fits in Overwatch. At that moment, Jeff probably thought, ‘Nah, a cat doesn’t work.’ But then Wrecking Ball came along, and we found ways to connect his story to Winston’s to justify his existence. As we progressed, we learned that for characters to resonate, they needed to be grounded in some form of reality or science.”

While the specifics of how Jetpack Cat will be grounded in the lore remain under wraps, Rogers hinted that Fika might possess a “suspiciously” high level of intelligence.

“We already have two animal characters in the game,” he noted. “Winston is essentially a human-like intelligent ape, and Hammond is also quite clever, communicating through his robot. We wanted Fika to be different—not another animal enhanced by a scientific experiment. Cat owners know that while they seem aloof, cats are often smarter than they appear. We aimed to capture that essence. How do we portray a cat that looks suspiciously smart?”

“As you play the game, you’ll discover more about the cat’s character and her journey within the world. Jeff Kaplan’s earlier comment was accurate at the time; we were still exploring the universe and how everything fits together. But we definitely want a universe where anything is possible.”