Soldier: 76 was originally developed by Overwatch 's creative director Chris Metzen in the early 2000s as part of non-gaming related projects within Blizzard, and which he later adapted for a comic story used in Digital Webbing Presents #16, published in July 2004. The character's revelation as an openly gay man has been met with a generally positive reception from players, though some commentators have expressed their concerns and doubt about the sincerity of the developers as well as the player community for inclusivity. Soldier: 76 was a highly popular choice for players during the early years of the first game.
A short story published by Blizzard in January 2019 details his past relationship with his same-sex domestic partner. Soldier: 76 originated as a comic book concept conceived by former Blizzard employee Chris Metzen in the early 2000s, and is later modified and repurposed for inclusion in Overwatch. Designed to appeal to newcomer players, Soldier: 76 wears a visor on top of his facemask and carries an experimental rifle. In the games, Jack is an American soldier-turned-vigilante and a founding member of the game's titular organization. John Francis 'Jack' Morrison, known by his code name Soldier: 76, is a character in Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch and its 2022 sequel Overwatch 2, both of which are team-based multiplayer first-person shooters.
