Overwatch 2’s newest hero, Wuyang, is set to make his debut in Season 18 later this month. Unlike most heroes, Wuyang’s arch-nemesis isn’t a superpowered villain, but rather the guilt he feels over disappointing his parents. Central to Wuyang’s identity crisis is Wuxing University, a prestigious institution of technology and military strategy in Chengdu, China.
Wuxing University is built around five elements: wood, air, water, fire, and metal, reflecting traditional Chinese philosophy that dates back to the Han Dynasty. According to senior narrative designer Joshi Zhang, “We wanted to represent this side of Chinese culture because [Wuxing] is a concept that has been present in things like music, astrology, martial arts, military strategy, and traditional Chinese medicine.”
Wuyang’s parents were experts in their fire-aligned field of studies, and they had high expectations for him. However, Wuyang failed to live up to his parents’ legacy when he didn’t score well on the college entrance exams. This led to pressure from his peers to live up to his family’s name.
Wuxing University is a pioneering institution that embodies these themes. “His story touches on feelings of guilt and shame that come with not meeting expectations,” said Zhang. The narrative team aimed to portray Wuyang’s personal struggles, making him a more relatable character.
Blizzard has prioritized representation in their Overwatch roster since the first game launched. However, this season, they’re focusing on telling deeper stories about characters’ experiences. For example, Hazara’s introduction highlighted his experiences as a poor boy from Scotland who found a new family and became an icon for the downtrodden.
The design philosophy emphasizes making heroes aspirational in some sense, but this approach also limits the scope of character development. Lead concept artist Daryl Tan stated that they’re eager to “sprinkle” non-human heroes into the game in the future.
To experiment with Wuyang’s water mastery, Blizzard is hosting a trial weekend from August 14-18 ahead of his debut in Season 18 on August 26.
Source: https://www.polygon.com/overwatch-2-wuyang-story-background-wuxing-university