Blizzard Entertainment has been asked to remove an Overwatch skin designed for the game’s Indian-origin Symmetra character. According to Rajan Zed, President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, the Devi skin trivializes the highly revered goddesses of the Hindu scriptures.
The Devi skin as well as its Goddess version is not an out–and–out representation of the Hindu deity Kali. But it does have certain key features traditionally used to depict her. At her waist, there’s the well recognized decoration of skulls. She also has blue skin, like some of the Hindu gods.
According to Zed, the Devi skin puts the goddess in the hands of gamers who manipulate the movements of the character. He says that controlling the deity via a computer amounts to denigration and reduces her to a mere character in the video game, when she is actually meant to be an object of worship.
Incidentally, Devi that translates into ‘goddess’ applies not just to Kali, but to any female deity revered by Hindus. The ‘appropriation’ Symmetra’s skin in Overwatch is being accused of has to do merely with its design as it does not ‘match with characterization of the goddesses in the scriptures.’
But Zed still feels that it can create confusion in the minds of the community. In 2012, he had asked Hi-Rez Studios to withdraw Kali, Vamana and Agni from the game Smite. Only this year, he spoke out against the gangster-like depiction of Krishna in the RPG Shin MegamiTensei IV: Final.
The opinion on Overwatch’s Devi skin is split into two camps. Some feel that the Western world needs to be more respectful about borrowing elements from other cultures or religions since certain groups may be more sensitive than others. A few gamers seem to be fine (even proud) about Devi’s inclusion.
So what do you think? Does Blizzard need to get over itself or does Zed need to find something else at which to take offense?