Blizzard has finally addressed player feedback. Today, the company revealed a visual redesign for Anran. The updated damage hero drops alongside Overwatch Season 2 on April 14.
Earlier this February, Blizzard unveiled Anran to the world. However, fans immediately criticized her initial design. Many players pointed out her “baby face” strongly resembled existing heroes like Brigitte and Kiriko. Consequently, the design failed to capture her lore as the fierce older sister of Wuyang. Even her voice actor, Fareeha Yue Andersen, posted a video demanding immediate changes. She wanted Anran to properly reflect her mature appearance from the “Overwatch Elemental Kin” comic.
Blizzard Fixes the Flaws
Creative Director Aaron Keller confirmed the development team heard the criticism loud and clear. As a result, Blizzard overhauled her facial features to build a stronger presence.
In Season 2, we’re introducing an updated look for Anran. She didn’t fully land as the fiery and fierce sister of Wuyang that we hoped she would. With this update, our team focused on strengthening her overall presence.
This evolution reflects both our creative intent and the… pic.twitter.com/1AwaVDuzdo
— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 6, 2026
The developers gave her eyes a much more focused look. Furthermore, they raised her right eyebrow to create a confident smirk. The team also defined her cheeks and jawline while giving her a slightly wider smile and mouth. Additionally, they applied darker shading and freckles. Finally, Blizzard adjusted her posture to present a highly confident pose.
Player reactions remain somewhat mixed. Some fans appreciate the effort, while others feel the visual update falls short. However, Fareeha heavily praised the redesign online. The voice actor thanked the community and developers, stating Anran finally looks like “the strong older sibling we knew her to be”.
Overwatch Enters a Massive New Era
This redesign marks another step in a highly successful year for the franchise. In 2026, Blizzard dropped the “2” from the title and completely revamped the game. The massive overhaul introduced new hero sub-rolls, an improved UI, and a strong narrative focus.
Moreover, the developers plan to release 10 total heroes this year. This fresh strategy successfully boosted player engagement and numbers throughout Season 1. Now, Season 2 promises even more content. Alongside Anran’s fresh look, Blizzard will introduce a brand-new Tank hero. This character marks the sixth new addition since the relaunch.
Details remain scarce right now. However, Blizzard drops the official Season 2 trailer today, April 8. Expect more concrete details very soon.
