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The alternate Overwatch skins of our dreams (and nightmares)

Features
By James Davenport published 4 July 2016

Take a look at a beer-chugging Roadhog, a terrifying candy-covered Torbjörn, and more.

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If Blizzard renamed Overwatch to Roadhog Fashion Party, I’d be a content man. That’s unlikely to ever happen, so we’ll have to settle with dreaming up our own pigman patterns, which the fervent Overwatch community has already taken to task many times over. In addition to knocking out loads of fan art, players have been sketching skin concepts for each and every hero.

While we may not see any of these skins make it into the game, they’re a fun exercise in speculation about what kind of skins Blizzard will think up for their characters next. They’ll have to be really good. I mean, I haven’t had a loot box craving in some time.

Here are some of the best alternative fan-created skins we could find. If you like them, be sure hit the link and let the creators know! 

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13

SOURCE: Nightmare Candyman Torbjörn
For the record, if this ever becomes an official skin, I’m out. No person likes candy that much. Plus, the lore implications are a bit twisted.  

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13

 SOURCE: Backwoods Roadhog
Hey look, it’s My Dad: The Roadhog Skin! But really, this skin makes me lament the lack of mod support in Overwatch. Maybe leave that kind of stuff out of Competitive Mode, but let me carry a sixer on my shoulder in quickplay… please?  

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13

 SOURCE: Otaku Roadhog
OK, nevermind, I’m good without mod support. 

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13

 SOURCE: Scuba D.Va
This skin could make it through Overwatch’s current ESRB rating for sure. I’m getting a major Street Sharks vibe too. Give me a Streex skin, and I’m on board.  

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13

 SOURCE: Skeletor Reaper
This is Reaper at his most natural—a man truly comfortable in his skin. In his default outfit, Reaper wouldn’t sound as convincing saying very ‘cool’ things like, “I am the alpha and the omega. Death and rebirth. And, as you die, so will I be reborn,” and so on. I’d hesitate to laugh. In these new digs, it’d be instant. 

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13

 SOURCE: Magician Mercy
This skin works as a jokey metaphor for what Mercy actually does, but she’s also wielding a massive wand. Look how silly it is. Give her some Zatanna voice lines and we’re set.  

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13

 SOURCE: Pinyatta
Maybe the name and colorful design will actually incentivize teammates to attack the healer, but I have my doubts. I wonder if there’s candy inside.  

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13

 SOURCE: Widowmaker Gearhead
This one shows a more relaxed side of Widowmaker. I like to imagine it’s her shop outfit, the one she wears while assembling all that cool spy gear. It’s also one of the few skins I could actually see Blizzard including in the game. She’s a character in need of dimension beyond her dour femme fatale personality, which this casual, scrappy look chips away at. 

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13

 SOURCE: Sparkle Pharah
The artist’s accompanying Tweet says, “Justice shines and sparkles from above.” I’m sold. If Hanzo gets a wolf-themed ult, turn Pharah’s rocket barrage into rainbows and shooting stars, please and thank you.  

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13

 SOURCE: Pandemonium Roadhog
This feels like a necessary evil. Blizzard’s done it before and they’ll do it again.  

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13

 SOURCE: White and Black Knight Winston
These skins give Winston’s armor a thorough medieval tinge and let the player choose whether to walk the light or dark path. As a fairly regal sounding character, they fit the part.  

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13

 SOURCE: Mad Hatter Junkrat
In my eyes, nothing about Junkrat is good. He’s a spindly, creepy man, so this (very well done) Mad Hatter skin makes perfect sense. I can see the dude throwing teacups willy-nilly and reciting the Jabberwocky from heart with ease. It’s also a bit less creepy than his Jester skin. To the trash with that one, yeah? 

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
James Davenport
James Davenport
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James is stuck in an endless loop, playing the Dark Souls games on repeat until Elden Ring and Silksong set him free. He's a truffle pig for indie horror and weird FPS games too, seeking out games that actively hurt to play. Otherwise he's wandering Austin, identifying mushrooms and doodling grackles. 

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