Overwatch 2 Fans Call Out Blizzard for Recycling Tracer Highlight in Street Fighter Collab

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With the exciting crossover between popular games Overwatch 2 and Street Fighter now unfolding, enthusiasts and players alike are delving deep into the fresh content this collaboration offers. Although most of it lives up to the anticipation associated with an Overwatch 2 team-up, there’s one aspect that has sparked controversy within the community. It seems a specific animation that was originally employed for Tracer has been recycled for another character in the event, and fans are quick to voice their disapproval.

Overwatch 2 Fans Call Out Blizzard for Recycling Tracer Highlight in Street Fighter Collab

Players discovering the Overwatch 2 and Street Fighter crossover have unearthed an intriguing—and debatable—aspect: Kiriko’s introduction spotlight bears striking similarities to Tracer’s, right down to being filmed shot-by-shot alike. Reminiscent of the legendary motorcycle scene from Akira, both characters perform a side drift and cast a gaze towards the camera, echoing a tribute.

Blizzard reused a Tracer Highlight intro for the Kiriko SF6 Collab
byu/Dzudio inOverwatch

Reddit users swiftly noticed this similarity and accused Blizzard of repeating assets. While the cosmetic changes might appear distinct, the animations are remarkably identical. This situation has ignited a good deal of criticism, with one user stating, “I recognized it seemed familiar. They’re growing too complacent if they believe this is something they can casually reproduce.

A different user commented, “They failed to eliminate the Tracer emblems on the motorcycle; instead, they merely repurposed the existing Tracer model without any attempt to alter it to suit Juri’s black and pink bike as shown in the Street Fighter 6 preview. This seems like a lazy reuse of an old asset with no embarrassment or effort put into customization.

A spectator playfully commented, “The first time she’s seen riding a bike, but it’s not hers. Ha!”, alluding to Kiriko’s line in the game, “Wait till you see me on my bike.” It appears that the main concern among fans isn’t just the repetition itself, but the apparent lack of creativity and freshness in implementing this reused element.

Numerous series, films, and animated series often acknowledge a well-known scene reminiscent of Akira, given its significant impact on modern media. Consequently, viewers may not be surprised by Kiriko and Tracer’s references to this iconic moment. However, the primary complaint revolves around Blizzard failing to capitalize on making Kiriko’s homage more distinctive, incorporating visual alterations that would set her adaptation apart and make it uniquely hers.

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2025-05-21 23:43