Sexual harassment mod unveils disturbing side of Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 is free for all, meaning sexually explicit custom games have also become accessible to underage audiences who previously couldn’t afford to buy the game.

Overwatch allows talented and creative players to whip up their own mods with immersive challenges and tasks. But, not all players use this feature to hone their in-game side skills. Some are exploiting the custom mods to develop inappropriate game mods that are now available for underage players. Sexual mods have existed in Overwatch for years, but the new FFA status has unveiled a dangerous side.

A concerned parent recently took to Twitter, prompting others to restrict their children’s access to Overwatch 2 due to an abhorring sexual mod. The worst part is that this custom game is centered on nonconsensual sex and harassment.

Do not let your children play Overwatch. My 12yo son found custom games within it, one called, 'sexual harassment' and one game that simulated the female characters being raped. Thankfully my son realised it was bad, closed the game and told me. Don't play #Overwatch

— Lynn MBE 🔥 (@Lynn_McGoo) October 23, 2022

Lynn MBE is a mother of a 12-year-old who came to learn about Overwatch’s custom game modes including sexual activity from her underage son. The mod was dubbed “sexual harassment,” in which her son spawned as the only female character among multiple males who tried performing indecent sexual acts.

Has Blizzard banned Overwatch 2’s sexual mods?

Her tweet was quoted by Twitch streamer Limmy who confirmed the existence of multiple similar Overwatch 2’s sexual mods accessible by 12-year-olds. Apparently, these mods have existed since Overwatch 1, but Blizzard hasn’t done much to remove them besides banning some terms. Now that the game is free, players under 18 don’t need any money to access the game’s dark side.

Most custom mods are focused on in-game voice and text chat, despite Blizzard’s ban on certain words like sex, sexual, and similar. However, players have bypassed the ban by utilizing leet speak, for example, replacing e with 3. Some of these mods would include rape, Teabagging, harassment, and nonconsensual impregnation of Overwatch 2’s female cast as challenges.

Currently, there’s no way to monitor what kids are doing on Overwatch 2 since the game’s FFA with no bars on such mods. Some of these mods include PG warnings, but that’s all. It doesn’t stop players from entering these servers that are by no means appropriate, even for adults, leave alone children.