While most controversies surrounding Overwatch are usually over which heroes will be nerfed or buffed with each patch, the latest controversy involves one of Symmetra’s skin designs.
Religious statesman and president of the Universal Society of Hinduism Rajan Zed has recently attempted to contact Blizzard over removing the controversial skin design. The legendary skin, called the “Devi skin,” is based on the Hindu goddess that is the Supreme Being in some Hindu traditions. Symmetra’s blue skin, bone necklace, and headpiece are all quite close to what Devi looks like.
Rajan Zed also posted a statement on his own website about the issue:
“Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged Irvine (California) headquartered Blizzard Entertainment CEO Michael Morhaime and its parent Santa Monica (California) based Activision Blizzard’s CEO Bobby Kotick to withdraw the Devi skin in the video game, as it trivialized Hinduism’s highly revered goddesses.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that in a video game set-up, the player controlled the movements of Devi, while in reality the devotees put the destinies of themselves in the hands of their goddesses.
Moreover, Devi and its movements depicted in Overwatch did not match with characterization of the goddesses in the scriptures, Rajan Zed noted.”
Zed has had issues with other video game companies before as well. He’s also written to Hi Rez Studios for their inclusion of Hindu gods and goddesses in Smite, a MOBA centered around playing as religious and mythological figures.
Blizzard has not released a statement yet regarding the issue.