Uprising

Event
Event:	Uprising
Participants:
Date(s):	2017
Type:	Video Game Event
Fandom:	Overwatch
URL:	https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/events/uprising
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Uprising was an event that happened in the game Overwatch beginning April 11, 2017. It ended on May 2, 2017. The event was set to end earlier than May 2, but due to accidentally ending too soon the end date was extended. It elaborated on the canon history of the game, and introduced new items for players to earn and win.

It is important in regards to fandom because of the backstory it gives to many heroes in-game. There was also a comic released prior to the game mode under the same name, which supplied some backstory to the events of the mode.

Game Mode

Uprising introduced a new game mode under the same name. In this mode, a team of four players playing as Reinhardt Wilhelm, Torbjörn Lindholm, Lena Oxton (Tracer) and Angela Ziegler (Mercy) must defeat waves of Omnics to stop an attack on King's Row, England. This mission is set in the game's past, and was Tracer's first mission as part of Overwatch.

It also introduced several skins for members of Overwatch, Talon and Blackwatch, as well as various other in-game items and new types of Omnics.

Fandom Reaction

The most reaction from fandom was centred around two new skins for Jesse McCree and Genji Shimada. Both skins generated huge amounts of fanart and discussion.

Jesse's skin was a point of discussion mainly from an aesthetic standpoint. Many fans found it hilarious that his boots had large heels, and that in the comics he had his right ear pierced - notoriously known as the 'gay ear'. Other discussion centred around the fact that in his new 'Blackwatch' skin, Jesse is wearing a belt buckle with the symbol of the Deadlock gang on it. Canonically Jesse was a part of the Deadlock gang before he joined Overwatch, which has confused fans as to why he is still wearing it in his Blackwatch skin.

Genji's skin is more focused on the lore aspect. Before the uprising event, it was known that he joined Overwatch after Hanzo Shimada nearly killed him - but his skin 'Blackwatch' confirms that he was actually part of Blackwatch with Jesse McCree. It also reveals that during Genji's fight with Hanzo, Hanzo ended the fight by backstabbing Genji. This was brought to light by Tumblr user genjibuddymada, who made a post explaining how the comic reveals this. As they say in their post:

theres a cut in the tapestry thing in the shrine inside the shimada castle that, we assume, is stained w/ genji’s blood. The cut is in this angle here>> /

and if u look at what human parts are left of genji u can kinda tell that the strongest blow he took went through his chest and shoulder. looking from the front it is at this angle>>>> \

but if u look at it from the back its the same / angle… so like…

This prompted a lot of discussion as to why this happened - since Hanzo is known to value honour. His skin prompted a lot of fanart, and some comics or discussion joking about his 'LED eyes'.

Other fan reactions that were created by the uprising event include:

• Disbelief at how Gabriel Reyes sounds in the game mode (his normal in-game voice is very deep and gruff)
• Theories concerning how the King's Row incident led to the fall of Overwatch
• Widespread disappointment from fans that Hanzo did not receive any skins, as many fans feel he is neglected in terms of new items
• Confusion as to why Genji has blades on his feet
• Discussion over Pharah's father, who was revealed to not be any already established characters

Uprising-inspired fanworks

• 

  Blackwatch McCree by Suzannart

• 

  Mercy Uprising by stevemillersart

• 

  Mercy uprising by EvaSOLO

Meta/Further Reading

• Overwatch Uprising FAQ - Tom's Guide
• Uprising Developter Update