- Primary Subject: Overwatch
- Key Update: Blizzard acknowledged fan criticism and confirmed plans to adjust Anran’s in-game model to better match her original character portrayal.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: February 10, 2026
- Quick Answer: Blizzard admits Anran’s model missed the intended character fantasy and says visual adjustments are planned in a future Season 1 patch.
Blizzard has acknowledged community criticism surrounding Anran, with Overwatch leadership conceding that the hero’s in-game appearance does not fully live up to the character fans were originally introduced to.
Shortly after Anran’s reveal and early trial, discussion grew as players focused less on her fire-based abilities and more on her visual design.
While her gameplay was largely well received, many players felt her face and overall presentation clashed with the strong, authoritative “older sister” persona established through earlier cinematics, comics, and promotional material tied to her younger brother, Wuyang.
How Does Anran’s In-Game Model Differ From Her Earlier Portrayals?
The criticism largely focuses on how Anran’s final in-game appearance differs from earlier portrayals, where she was shown with stronger features and a more commanding, battle-hardened demeanor.
By contrast, her in-game model features softer facial proportions, a smaller nose, and a rounder face, which many fans say makes her look closer to heroes like Kiriko and Juno.
This revived long-running criticism of Overwatch’s facial sameness, especially among its female cast, with players arguing the problem goes beyond visuals to a disconnect between Anran’s design and her intended personality.
The response grew louder as fans shared comparisons, mock-ups, and adjusted facial designs for Anran, often positioning the edits as refinements meant to recover her presence instead of reimagining her entirely.
The prevailing view was that Anran doesn’t just appear different from her introduction, but comes across as having an entirely different temperament.
The dissatisfaction grew in the days leading up to Season 1, with renewed scrutiny on Blizzard’s artistic direction and character consistency.
What Has Blizzard Said About Fixing Anran?
The situation reached a turning point after Overwatch game director Aaron Keller acknowledged the feedback and confirmed internal discussions about better matching Anran’s look to her intended character fantasy.
He acknowledged that hero models are technically complex and require extensive testing, making immediate changes impossible, but emphasized that the feedback is valid.
Blizzard has since stated that while Anran will launch as-is with Season 1, adjustments are planned for a future patch before the season concludes.
Anran’s English voice actor Fareeha Andersen also backed the criticism while encouraging respectful discussion.
Andersen explained that Anran’s final model doesn’t live up to what earlier portrayals suggested, which she felt were positioned as a deliberate push against restrictive beauty standards.
She described the situation as personally disappointing, not just as a performer, but as someone who believes Overwatch has historically pushed boundaries in how heroism and identity are visually represented.
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