Blizzard is making some changes to Anran.
Overwatch’s development team is making good on its promise to redesign Anran, following player backlash over her initial in-game appearance. When she was first revealed as one of Season 1’s new playable heroes earlier this year, players remarked that she looked rather different compared to an earlier appearance in a cinematic trailer.
This week, Blizzard revealed the hero’s new redesign, bringing Anran closer to her previous appearances in look and feel.
Overwatch
Release date: 24 May, 2016
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
When is Anran getting redesigned?
Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Overwatch hero Anran is getting redesigned in Season 2. When her original design was revealed before Season 1 launched, fans criticised her perceived similarities to Kiriko and Juno, specifically with regards to her facial model.
To add fuel to the fire, Anran had already appeared in an earlier hero cinematic with her brother Wuyang, giving players a glimpse at the hero before her full debut. Once she appeared in-game, her facial model appeared to be slimmer, and didn’t quite resemble the version of Anran players had become familiar with.
What does Anran’s redesign look like?
Earlier today, Overwatch game director Aaron Keller took to the game’s social media accounts to reveal Anran’s new redesign. The new hero has received a few visual changes to better resemble her brother Wuyang, and to move away from what Keller refers to as the “baby face” of her original design.
Anran’s character model also has a different posture now, appearing more confident and ready to take her enemies on in the hero selection menu. In the video, Keller explained:
“We want our heroes to feel unique, but we also want their visuals to match their personalities, and we feel like we didn’t quite land that when Anran first released. We think she could come across older and that her original version was too innocent and playful. Anran is confident, determined, fierce, and a natural born leader, and we want her visuals in-game to convey that personality.”
The new changes might be a tad subtle, but it is now at least clearer that Anran is meant to be Wuyang’s older and more cocky sister, rather than a younger sibling.
Anran’s redesign will launch as part of Overwatch Season 2, which is set to go live on 14 April, 2026. Hero 51 will also launch in Season 2, and a new hero trailer will be released for her tomorrow.
