Why Overwatch 2’s Cowboy Bebop collaboration looks a little weird

Blizzard Entertainment’s partnership with anime studio Sunrise to explore the world of Cowboy Bebop Unpleasant Overwatch 2 was met with great enthusiasm when it was first unveiled in its stylized, animated form. But when Blizzard released a full look at the in-game skins for Cassidy, Ashe, Mauga, Sombra, and Wrecking Ball, a dose of reality kicked in.

There was actually one character in particular that stood out: Cole Cassidy, the outlaw cowboy formerly known as McCree, who was dressed as Cowboy Bebop‘s Spike Spiegel. The animated promise of that crossover seemed like a perfect fit. But the in-game model of Cassidy costumed Spike looks a lot less attractive, at least compared to the original concept art.

It’s common for 3D character models to differ significantly from 2D concepts. In 2D, artists don’t have to worry about reduced detail or hitboxes. Cassidy isn’t nearly as agile or as young as Spike.

But the response to the in-game models from the Overwatch community was swift and incredibly unkind to Mr. Cassidy. “I just know the developers cried trying to replicate Spike’s hair in 3D, man,” reads a top comment on the Overwatch subreddit. “They all look good except Spike,” reads another. “It’s like Cass ate a bee right before they had to go to the con.”

Overwatch players also pointed out how weird Mauga looks as Jet Black. Normally, Mauga has a huge mane of jet black hair (with a striking white streak) that helps define his broad silhouette. But as Jet Black, Mauga takes on the anime character’s baldness.

Yet it is Cassidy who receives the most negative attention on social media platforms such as X And TikTok.

An obvious design choice Overwatch 2 What players take issue with is Cassidy’s hair, which was covered by a hat in the original animated trailer. Oddly enough, Cassidy’s Spike skin in the game does not have a hat, despite the character wearing one in all his other skins.

Overwatch 2 said art director Dion Rogers ComicBook.com that the unusual choice of having Cassidy go without a hat was intended to better match Spike Spiegel’s appearance.

“That was something we went back and forth on about how he would feel silhouette-wise,” Rogers said. “There are a lot of gameplay choices when we remove something from a hero. But to really capture the Spike and make that hero feel like he or she is himself or cosplaying just like him. We chose to remove his hat.”

Rogers points out and notes an important design choice in that quote Overwatch 2‘s characters are ‘cosplaying’. That’s not supposed to be Spike Spiegel in the world of Overwatch, but Cole Cassidy dressed up as him. The same went for Blizzard One punch man work together for Overwatch 2which helps explain why Overwatch’s heroes look similar and no closer to their anime inspirations.

It’s a design choice that will remain consistent, the game’s artists say.

“(Overwatch) wants to maintain the identity (and) art style of the characters through the various collaborations, something that other IPs are not always as concerned with,” said Overwatch 2 lead artist Mike Hardison on Xin response to feedback about the Cowboy Bebop character skins. “That’s our line in the sand.”

Overwatch 2‘S Cowboy Bebop crossover is now live in the game.