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Blizzard’s recent history has been marred by lawsuits and allegations that exposed a deeply ingrained culture of harassment, misconduct, and gender-based discrimination. The company has publicly promised to reform efforts, including removing references to staff involved in scandals and rebranding characters to avoid problematic associations.
This particular case of renaming McCree is part of a larger “purge” of real-world references. For instance, previous in-game elements associated with former Blizzard employees, like a sign referencing Jeff Kaplan—who departed Blizzard earlier this year—have been revised or removed. The company's goal is clear: eliminate any link to the problematic past, even if that means making awkward or amusing choices.