X

Blizzard trying to crack down on Overwatch porn

Fighting Rule 34 may seem futile, but Blizzard has a good reason for trying to stop X-rated fan interpretations of its multiplayer first-person shooter.

Michelle Starr Science editor
Michelle Starr is CNET's science editor, and she hopes to get you as enthralled with the wonders of the universe as she is. When she's not daydreaming about flying through space, she's daydreaming about bats.
Michelle Starr
tracer.jpg
Enlarge Image
tracer.jpg

Playable character Tracer is Pornhub's most wanted.

Blizzard

Blizzard's team-based multiplayer first-person shooter Overwatch was released last week to widespread acclaim. However, as Rule 34 of the internet states, "If it exists, there is porn of it," and Overwatch is no exception. Since the game's beta went live on May 5, Pornhub searches for Overwatch increased by 800 percent.

What is an exception is that Blizzard is issuing takedown notices. As reported by PCGamesN, a porn creator took to the Overwatch subreddit to complain about DMCA takedowns, comparing it to Blizzard taking down fan art.

While Blizzard has been known to have a liberal policy toward fan videos, allowing assets from its games to be used in free fan content, it does have very clear guidelines. One of these states, "To maintain and protect the image of our games, Blizzard also requires that Productions maintain the 'T' rating that has been given to its products by the ESRB."

Blizzard did not immediately respond to a request for comment.