Blizzard to Redesign New Overwatch Hero Anran Following Player Feedback on Similarity to Kiriko: “We Believe She Can Be Improved”
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Big changes are underway in Overwatch 2, now simply called Overwatch, with a host of new heroes joining the lineup and the launch of a new multi-season narrative arc. One of the newcomers, Anran, is being reworked by Blizzard after receiving significant feedback from the community.
Anran was first introduced in a trailer featuring her younger brother, Wuyang, back in August 2025. Since then, she has undergone changes, with players noting her striking resemblance to Kiriko. Her voice actor, streamer Fareeha Anderson, mentioned that this version of Anran leans into outdated archetypes.
“There was an unspoken promise that said, ‘We’re going to challenge the beauty standards plaguing [and] ransacking media these days,’ the Ozempic chic, the ‘contour your nose, you have no nose, the tiniest nose,'” Anderson stated in a video shared on Twitter. “And I think because of that precedent, people feel understandably let down.”
Blizzard acknowledges the feedback, and game director Aaron Keller shared that the team is re-evaluating Anran in a video of his own. “The team is currently discussing what it will take to make Anran look and feel more like the fierce older sister that we all envisioned her to be,” he explained.
“We’re incredibly proud of the work that our team has put into Anran and the other five heroes launching in Season 1,” Keller added, “and we agree that she can be even better if we get this aspect of her right in-game.”
The goal is to introduce the revamped Anran in Season 1, though no specific timeline has been set. “Our hero models are incredibly complicated, and we really need to test out what we can do,” he noted.
Keller went on to highlight the vision for Overwatch Season 1, showcasing the “dedication and tireless work” the developers have invested in this decade-old FPS. Anran’s voice actor expressed gratitude for the community’s response. “I love this game,” they tweeted. “Thank you, devs, for listening! Thank you, Overwatch community, for speaking up!”
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Overwatch’s Steam reviews may still be struggling, but excitement for the new update has revitalized the hero shooter’s player count, surpassing both Call of Duty and Battlefield 6.
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