Soldier: 76
| Soldier: 76 | |
|---|---|
| Overwatch character | |
| Soldier: 76's appearance in Overwatch | |
| First appearance | Digital Webbing Presents #16 (2004) | 
| First game | Overwatch (2016) | 
| Created by | Chris Metzen | 
| Voiced by | Fred Tatasciore | 
| In-universe information | |
| Class | Damage | 
| Nationality | American | 
Soldier: 76 is the codename of John Francis "Jack" Morrison, a character who first appeared in the 2016 video game Overwatch, a Blizzard Entertainment–developed first-person shooter, and the resulting franchise. In the games, Jack is an American soldier-turned-vigilante and a founding member of the game's titular organization. Designed to appeal to newcomer players, Soldier: 76 wears a visor on top of his facemask and carries an experimental rifle. 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. A short story published by Blizzard in January 2019 details his past relationship with his same-sex domestic partner.
Soldier: 76 was a highly popular choice for players during the early years of the first game. The reveal that Soldier: 76 is 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.