Another LGBTQ Character Confirmed for Overwatch Video Game

A new short story confirms a second Overwatch character identifies as LGBTQ.

Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind the popular video game, released on Monday the canonical short story "Bastet," which builds up the extended universe for the team-based shooter.

The tale reveals character Jack Morrison, better known to players as Soldier: 76, previously had a relationship with another man identified as "Vincent."

The revelation came through the following exchange:

"Vincent deserved a happier life than the one I could give him." Jack sighed. "We both knew that I could never put anything above my duty. Everything I fought for was to protect people like him... That's the sacrifice I made."

"Relationships don't work out so well for us, do they?" Ana said, unconsciously running her thumb over where her wedding ring used to be.

"At least you and Gabe managed to have families."

Just to erase any question, Overwatch lead writer Michael Chu, who penned "Bastet," confirmed Morrison's sexuality through a post on Twitter.

"Jack and Vincent were in a romantic relationship many years ago," Chu wrote. "Both identify as gay."

The revelation ups the queer quotient on a game that already boasts one of the most prominent LGBTQ characters in the digital world.

A comic book supplement for Overwatch previously disclosed Lena "Tracer" Oxton had a live-in girlfriend, Emily. Tracer appears on the cover of the game and has been prominently featured in marketing materials. The revelation of her sexuality landed Tracer atop The Advocate's list of 25 LGBT Video Game Characters in February.

Gaming news site Polygon noted the same comic revealing Tracer's backstory included a panel showing Soldier: 76 staring at an aged photograph of himself with a young man. The similarity to a picture included with the "Bastet" story makes it likely that photograph also showed Morrison with Vincent.

Soldier: 76 is one of 29 playable characters in the game, as is Tracer.