Zarya (Overwatch)

File:Zarya-particlecannon.png

Developed for Overwatch, Zarya's concept started around gameplay elements, namely Game Director Geoff Goodman wanting to implement a character with a heavy gun and a shield generator.{{cite web |url=https://www.heroesneverdie.com/2018/10/5/17856772/blizzard-character-design-heroes-characters-lore |title=How Blizzard builds a cast of Overwatch heroes, villains, and victims |website=Heroes Never Die |last=Cass |first=Marshall |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |date=October 5, 2018 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602080251/https://www.heroesneverdie.com/2018/10/5/17856772/blizzard-character-design-heroes-characters-lore |url-status=live }} After watching a weightlifting competition, Assistant Art Director Arnold Tsang felt the concept would make for an "awesome" character for the game, and additionally wanted to create a "tough, female character with kind of a nonstandard body type."{{cite web | url = http://www.polygon.com/2017/3/20/14982532/sombras-voice-loves-the-character | title = Sombra's voice actor doesn't mind the haters, loves her character | first = Brian | last = Crecente | date = March 20, 2017 | access-date = March 20, 2017 | work = Polygon | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170320211638/http://www.polygon.com/2017/3/20/14982532/sombras-voice-loves-the-character | archive-date = March 20, 2017 | url-status = live }} She was created in part to satisfy calls from fans to add more diverse body types after the initial set of heroes were revealed for the game.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamecrate.com/new-overwatch-characters-and-beta-details-revealed/10236 |title=New Overwatch characters and beta details revealed |work=Game Crate |last=Scibetta |first=Nicholas |date=March 6, 2015 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605100700/https://www.gamecrate.com/new-overwatch-characters-and-beta-details-revealed/10236 |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |url-status=live }} Her design was inspired by one of Blizzard's 3D artists, Tamara Bakhlycheva, particularly her hair color and style.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-real-life-inspiration-behind-our-favourite-video-games-destiny-overwatch-assassins-creed-and-more/ |title=The real-life inspiration behind our favourite video games: Overwatch, Destiny, Assassin's Creed, and more |work=GamesRadar+ |last=Delahunty-Light |first=Zoe |date=October 25, 2016 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605100656/https://www.gamesradar.com/the-real-life-inspiration-behind-our-favourite-video-games-destiny-overwatch-assassins-creed-and-more/ |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |url-status=live }} Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan noted her as an example of how character designs challenge the stereotypes of their character types.{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/02/27/overwatchs-goal-wasnt-diversity-but-inclusivity-says-director-jeff-kaplan-normal-things-are-normal/ |title=Overwatch's goal wasn't diversity, but inclusivity, says director Jeff Kaplan, "normal things are normal" |work=VG247 |last=Arif |first=Shabana |date=February 27, 2017 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214070554/https://www.vg247.com/2017/02/27/overwatchs-goal-wasnt-diversity-but-inclusivity-says-director-jeff-kaplan-normal-things-are-normal/ |archive-date=December 14, 2019 |url-status=live }} The development team noted that unlike many characters in the game, Zarya's development from early concept to completion was "surprisingly smooth".{{cite web |url=https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/overwatch/23612224/together-we-are-strong-designing-zarya-in-overwatch-and-heroes-of-the-storm |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |title=Together We Are Strong! - Designing Zarya in Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm |date=January 29, 2021 |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130050114/https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/overwatch/23612224/together-we-are-strong-designing-zarya-in-overwatch-and-heroes-of-the-storm |url-status=live }}

Standing 6 ft 5 in (195 cm) tall,{{cite web |url=http://media.blizzard.com/overwatch/media/reference/zarya_reference.pdf |title=Overwatch Cosplay Guide: Zarya |date=2015 |publisher=Blizzard Entertainment |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602092600/http://media.blizzard.com/overwatch/media/reference/zarya_reference.pdf |url-status=live }} Zarya is a heavily muscular woman with pink hair cut into a pixie cut. Her outfit consists of pants and a tank top, with blue armor covering her legs, feet, and torso. The armor has multiple red ports on each plate, and wires connecting the torso to the legs. She wears armored fingerless gloves on each hand with similar plating and wires extending from the wrist to the fingers, and an elbow pad on her right arm. Her weapon, a large particle cannon, is wielded underhand by both hands, similar to a minigun. When designing it, the developers did not want it to outshine Zarya, so they built her design around it, with the wires and ports acting as a visible representation of her role as the cannon's conduit. On her left upper bicep near the shoulder is a tribal tattoo with the text "512", while a similar tattoo extends past the gloved area of her wrist up her forearm.{{cite book|last=Burns|first=Matt|editor-last1=Simpson|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gary|editor-first2=Cate|editor-last3=Monahan|editor-first3=Allison|title=The Art of Overwatch Limited Edition|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|date=October 24, 2017|isbn=9781506705538 |page=122}} The number is meant to represent the character's weight lifting world record in kilograms, and in an earlier version read 312 instead.{{cite book|last=Burns|first=Matt|editor-last1=Simpson|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gary|editor-first2=Cate|editor-last3=Monahan|editor-first3=Allison|title=The Art of Overwatch Limited Edition|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|date=October 24, 2017|isbn=9781506705538 |page=125}}

Like other Overwatch characters, Zarya received skins, unlockable cosmetic items to change her in-game appearance. When developing them, they wanted to build them around her backstory, and in particular her Russian heritage and role as a soldier. Of particular note are the "Industrial" skin, modeled after a punk rocker in black spiked clothing; the "Siberian Front" skin which shows her as a soldier with night vision goggles; and the "Champion" skin, meant to represent her time as a professional weightlifter and color-themed after the Russian flag.{{cite book|last=Burns|first=Matt|editor-last1=Simpson|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gary|editor-first2=Cate|editor-last3=Monahan|editor-first3=Allison|title=The Art of Overwatch Limited Edition|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|date=October 24, 2017|isbn=9781506705538 |pages=219, 225}} Several of her skins however were modified during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Blizzard removing the "Z" symbol on them. The "Z" symbol had become representative of pro-Russian war position, with soldiers displaying it on their military vehicles when invading the country.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/23013569/overwatch-zarya-skin-update-ukraine-russian-war-z | title = Overwatch's Zarya no longer wears a 'Z,' now a Russian pro-war symbol | first = Michael | last = McWhertor | date = April 6, 2022 | accessdate = April 6, 2022 | work = Polygon | archive-date = April 6, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220406203235/https://www.polygon.com/23013569/overwatch-zarya-skin-update-ukraine-russian-war-z | url-status = live }}

Her design was significantly altered for Overwatch 2; in particular her haircut was changed into a ponytail with side fade, while her arm tattoo was extended into a full sleeve. Now additionally covering her upper biceps, her armor was heavily modified to a black and white appearance, while the visible wires and ports were reduced.{{cite web |website=Dot Esports |title=Here are the best Overwatch 2 hero redesigns |url=https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/the-best-overwatch-2-hero-redesigns |last=Morrow |first=Emily |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |date=October 3, 2022 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603021005/https://dotesports.com/overwatch/news/the-best-overwatch-2-hero-redesigns |url-status=live }}

Aleksandra "Zarya" Zaryanova is a Russian woman introduced in the 2016 first-person shooter Overwatch. As a young woman in Siberia, her village was attacked by a robotic force called "omnics", which devastated the region. Seeking strength to protect her people and homeland from future assaults, she became a bodybuilder and weightlifter, and was expected to break a number of records in the world championships. However, dormant omnics reactivated in the area on the evening of the tournament, and she withdrew from the competition to join local defense forces.{{Unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web|url=https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/heroes/zarya/|title=Zarya - Overwatch|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|access-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407145208/https://playoverwatch.com/en-us/heroes/zarya/|archive-date=April 7, 2019|url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url=https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/heroes/zarya/|title=Overwatch 2 - Heroes: Zarya|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|access-date=June 1, 2023|archive-date=June 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602001118/https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/heroes/zarya/|url-status=live}}}} To this end she uses a particle cannon, originally stated to have been torn off an enemy vessel,{{cite book |title=Overwatch Visual Source Book |asin=B077PL2G1Z |publisher=Azeroth Music |date=January 2017 |page=104 |url=https://archive.org/details/artbook-Ofitsialny_Artbuk_Overwatch/page/n105 |accessdate=June 2, 2023}} but later retconned to be a company's experimental weapon deemed too heavy for others to use. Zarya was added to multiplayer online battle arena game Heroes of the Storm during its "Machines of War event" in September 2016 at the request of that game's director Jade Martin, due to her heavy use of the character in Overwatch. Zarya also returned for Overwatch 2. In all appearances, Zarya is voiced by Dolya Gavanski.{{cite web|url=https://www.pushkinhouse.org/events/2021/6/28/womens-day-screening-qampa-with-dolya-gavanski-and-lucy-ash|title=Women's Day: Screening + Q&A with Dolya Gavanski and Lucy Ash|publisher=Pushkin House|date=June 28, 2021|accessdate=June 1, 2023|archive-date=June 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601165109/https://www.pushkinhouse.org/events/2021/6/28/womens-day-screening-qampa-with-dolya-gavanski-and-lucy-ash|url-status=live}}

Her story is further fleshed out in the digital comic book series, first appearing in Zarya: Searching, the fifteenth issue of the 2016 Overwatch tie-in comic book series. In it, she is tasked by the CEO of the company that developed her weapon to track down the terrorist hacker Sombra. Working hesitantly alongside a friendly omnic named Lynx, they track down and capture Sombra, only for the hacker to reveal that the CEO has been receiving technology from partnerships with the enemy forces. Rescuing Lynx after Sombra hacks him, she decides to keep the information secret for the good of the Russian people.{{Cite comic |issue=15 |title=Overwatch |story=Zarya: Searching |date=September 27, 2017 |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |url=https://static.playoverwatch.com/media/comics/15/en-us/comic-overwatch-searching.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=June 1, 2023 |writer=Robinson, Andrew |artist=Niemczyk, Kate |archive-date=October 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017183613/https://static.playoverwatch.com/media/comics/15/en-us/comic-overwatch-searching.pdf |url-status=live }} Later she appears in the fourth issue of Overwatch{{'}}s New Blood comic miniseries, where gunslinger Cassidy asks her to join the global peace-keeping force "Overwatch", and she accepts after they defend her hometown from omnic forces.{{cite comic |url=https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/media/stories/new-blood-3/ |accessdate=June 1, 2023 |date=February 8, 2022 |title=Overwatch: New Blood |issue=5 |writer=Fawkes, Ray |artist=Koh, Irene |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602021813/https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/media/stories/new-blood-3/ |url-status=live }} She later fights alongside him and the other Overwatch members as they protect the South Korean city of Busan from attack in issue 5.{{cite comic |url=https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/media/stories/new-blood-5/ |accessdate=June 1, 2023 |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Overwatch: New Blood |issue=5 |writer=Fawkes, Ray |artist=Koh, Irene |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |archive-date=May 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531095543/https://overwatch.blizzard.com/en-us/media/stories/new-blood-5/ |url-status=live }}

In Overwatch, Zarya is classified as a Tank-class character, designed to absorb large amounts of damage from the enemy team in team compositions while protecting their teammates.{{cite web|last=Carter|first=Chris|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/23/11744852/overwatch-character-guide|title=Overwatch character guide|work=Polygon|date=May 23, 2016|accessdate=September 27, 2022|archive-date=December 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230092001/https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/23/11744852/overwatch-character-guide|url-status=live}} Her weapon has two firing modes, one that fires in a steady stream of energy in a beam, and another that lobs a projectile that explodes upon impact that deals splash damage. She also has two activated abilities that will either deploy a shield (sometimes referred by players as "bubbles") on herself for a short period of time, or on a targeted ally for a shorter period.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-2-zarya-hero-guide/1100-6508575/ |title=Overwatch 2 - Zarya Hero Guide |website=GameSpot |date=October 25, 2022 |accessdate=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603052015/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/overwatch-2-zarya-hero-guide/1100-6508575/ |url-status=live }} This shield absorbs incoming attacks and projectiles until its duration expires or it absorbs a certain amount of damage. Damage absorbed this way is converted into a boost to Zarya's own outgoing damage due to her "Energy" passive ability, with the amount diminishing slowly when not being replenished or entirely if Zarya is killed. Lastly her 'ultimate' ability, called "Graviton Surge", requires to be charged before use. The ability charges slowly during the course of gameplay, and can be charged faster through damage dealt to the enemy team. Once full the ability can be activated to fire a projectile that upon contact explodes into an area of effect field that will pull enemies towards it and immobilize them for a short period of time.{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/features/overwatch-character-guide-zarya-genji-reinhardt/208664/ |title=Overwatch Character Guide: Zarya, Genji, Reinhardt |work=Hardcore Gamer |last=Whittaker |first=Matt |date=May 26, 2016 |accessdate=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603052833/https://hardcoregamer.com/features/overwatch-character-guide-zarya-genji-reinhardt/208664/ |url-status=live }}

When developing her gameplay, Geoff Goodman stated that her primary concept was to develop a tank character that "wanted to take damage". They originally considered her gaining shields from absorbed damage, but instead focused on her shields powering up her weapon due to the lower damage output Tank-class characters in Overwatch were defined by. Graviton Surge was the first move they'd developed, and the team felt that had nailed it from the start, with only slight tweaking required. During this, they experimented with a different ultimate ability that would simultaneously project shields to all teammates at once, but felt it was "visually messy" and didn't have the same impact as Graviton Surge. Goodman added he felt the move also fit her personality, stating "[Zarya’s] personality and background really lean into this 'c'mon and try to hit me' vibe that our game design was built on."

For Heroes of the Storm, most of her abilities remained unchanged. However, she gained an alternative option to Graviton Surge called "Expulsion Zone", which in contrast expels enemies from the targeted area for a brief period of time, dealing damage to them while also reducing their movement speed for the duration.{{Cite web|url=http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/heroes/zarya/|title=Zarya - Heroes of the Storm|website=Battle.net|publisher=Blizzard Entertainment|language=en-us|access-date=October 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828224016/http://us.battle.net/heroes/en/heroes/zarya/|archive-date=August 28, 2017|url-status=live}}

To promote Overwatch and the character, she was hinted at on the main Overwatch Twitter account via a fake Russian fitness magazine cover that showed her in silhouette.{{cite tweet |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321225450/https://twitter.com/PlayOverwatch/status/570999260595953664 |archivedate=2015-03-21|number=570999260595953664 |user=PlayOverwatch |title=[EXCLUSIVE] What caused one weightlifting world champ hopeful to give up fame and glory? Find out in our March issue!}} The next month she was unveiled as a playable character at the PAX East convention in 2015.{{cite web |website=PC Gamer |title=Hands-on with Overwatch's two new characters |date=March 6, 2015 |last=Lahti |first=Evan |accessdate=June 3, 2023 |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-new-characters-pax-east-2015/ |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605100650/https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-new-characters-pax-east-2015/ |url-status=live }} Since then she has been featured on various merchandise such as hoodies,{{cite web |website=Polygon |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/23/15680240/overwatch-clothing-hoodies-jinx-reaper-dva |last=Stark |first=Chelsea |title=Jinx is trying to replace your entire wardrobe with Overwatch |date=May 23, 2017 |accessdate=June 3, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603063820/https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/23/15680240/overwatch-clothing-hoodies-jinx-reaper-dva |url-status=live }} promotional images themed around holidays,{{cite book|last=Burns|first=Matt|editor-last1=Simpson|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Gary|editor-first2=Cate|editor-last3=Monahan|editor-first3=Allison|title=The Art of Overwatch Limited Edition|publisher=Dark Horse Comics|date=October 24, 2017|isbn=9781506705538 |pages=360–361}} and an action figure by Hasbro, with a black and yellow armor variant released as an exclusive for GameStop stores.{{cite web |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/news/new-set-of-overwatch-ultimates-figures-available-for-pre-order/331679/ |title=New Set of Overwatch Ultimates Figures Available for Pre-order |website=Hardcore Gamer |accessdate=August 25, 2023 |date=May 22, 2019 |last=Whritenour |first=Jacob |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825171320/https://hardcoregamer.com/news/new-set-of-overwatch-ultimates-figures-available-for-pre-order/331679/ |url-status=live }}

Zarya's creation has been seen as a direct response to criticisms of the female characters introduced in Overwatch{{'}}s initial previews, in particular to concerns raised by feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian.{{cite book |last=Holmes |first=Steve |title=The Rhetoric of Video Games as Embodied Practice|series=Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication|publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=September 25, 2017 |isbn=9781351399470}}{{cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/03/new-overwatch-character-shows-blizzard-really-is-listening/ |title=New Overwatch Character Shows Blizzard Really Is Listening |last=Hernandez |first=Patricia |date=March 7, 2017 |access-date=June 1, 2023 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601081627/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2015/03/new-overwatch-character-shows-blizzard-really-is-listening/ |url-status=dead }} Since her reveal, she has been considered one of the most popular characters from the game. Jess Joho of Kill Screen called her status as the world's strongest woman "an apology, or, more accurately, [...] reparation" for the lack of plus-sized female representation in video games, and saw her a response by Blizzard to accusations of a lack of diversity in their female character design, praising the conversation opportunities raised by her inclusion.{{cite web |url=https://killscreen.com/articles/zarya-makes-mother-russia-bitch/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116101650/https://killscreen.com/articles/zarya-makes-mother-russia-bitch/ |title=Zarya makes Mother Russia her bitch |work=Killscreen |last=Joho |first=Jess |date=August 12, 2016 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 16, 2018}} Similarly, Den of Geek{{'}}s Laura Hardgrave commented that she was "floored" by Zarya's character design, feeling she was a standout in the game and commending the fact that players could now identify with a "badass female character who actually looks like she can wield a giant gun."{{cite web |last=Hardgrave |first=Laura |date=November 5, 2015 |title=Overwatch: Diversity in Gaming Done Right |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/overwatch-diversity-in-gaming-done-right/ |accessdate=May 30, 2023 |website=Den of Geek |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530220731/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/overwatch-diversity-in-gaming-done-right/ |url-status=live }} This particular sentiment was held by Kelly Cardigan of Kotaku, who cited her as an inspiration to begin lifting weights and engage in bodybuilding, calling her "exactly the hero I needed".{{Cite web |last=Cardigan |first=Kelly |date=December 26, 2017 |title=Overwatch's Zarya Got Me To Start Lifting Weights |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/12/overwatchs-zarya-got-me-to-start-lifting-weights/ |access-date=May 30, 2023 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530221607/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/12/overwatchs-zarya-got-me-to-start-lifting-weights/ |url-status=dead }} In a presentation at the 2017 Brazilian Symposium on Computer Games and Digital Entertainment, Professor Georgia da Cruz Pereira described her as a unique character in not just Overwatch but games overall, and praised how her character's strength was reflected in both her own voice lines and in how other characters spoke to her in-game.{{cite journal |title=Não Se Preocupem Queridos, a Cavalaria Chegou: Análise Crítica Do Design Das Personagens de Overwatch |journal=Anais do Simpósio Brasileiro de Jogos e Entretenimento Digital |year=2017 |last1=Araújo |first1=Guilherme Pedrosa Carvalho |last2=Pereira |first2=Georgia da Cruz |language=Portuguese |volume=16|issn=2179-2259|trans-title=Don't Worry Darlings, the Cavalry Has Arrived: Critical Analysis of Overwatch{{'}}s Character Designs|url=https://www.sbgames.org/sbgames2017/papers/ArtesDesignFull/173540.pdf |accessdate=2024-10-24}}

In 2019 Kotaku{{'}}s Cecilia D'Anastasio noted many Western fans perceived Zarya as a gay icon, with multitudes of artwork depicting her as a lesbian in response to her appearance, a sentiment shared by fellow contributor Nathan Grayson.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/inside-the-surprisingly-big-overwatch-porn-scene-1778229605 |title=Inside The Surprisingly Big Overwatch Porn Scene |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |access-date=June 1, 2023 |date=May 23, 2016 |website=Kotaku |archive-date=May 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506090700/https://kotaku.com/inside-the-surprisingly-big-overwatch-porn-scene-1778229605 |url-status=live }} However, when asking Russian players for their views on the character, D'Anastasio found the responses more mixed, with some positive but others outright homophobic and transphobic towards her character design. Russian journalist Tim Seyfelmlyukov achieved similar results with his own study, comparing her design to a lesbian stereotype and telling D'Anastasio that people with her appearance were "super rare gems in Russia" due to the country's harsher laws against homosexuality. He added that, "because people are not exposed to gay people expressing themselves, people [here] don’t make the connection." D'Anastasio herself made a point to emphasize that a woman's appearance should have no direct bearing on her sexual orientation, and closed with stating that Zarya was more than her perceived sexuality and Russian patriotism, questioning whether players would be able to come to terms with their own biases towards her.{{cite web |last=D'Anastasio |first=Cecilia |date=June 29, 2016 |title=Zarya From Overwatch Has Become A Gay Icon, Ironically |url=https://kotaku.com/zarya-from-overwatch-has-become-a-gay-icon-ironically-1782833947 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817224442/https://kotaku.com/zarya-from-overwatch-has-become-a-gay-icon-ironically-1782833947 |archive-date=August 17, 2019 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |work=Kotaku}}

Due to her Russian ethnicity, build, and large weapon, she has been compared to Heavy Weapons Guy from Team Fortress 2.{{cite web |last=Lahti |first=Evan |date=March 6, 2015 |title=Hands-on with Overwatch's two new characters |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-new-characters-pax-east-2015/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605100650/https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-new-characters-pax-east-2015/ |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |work=PC Gamer}} The Russian paper titled Tendencies in Representation of Russian Culture in Computer Games also made this comparison when discussion portrayals of Russian characters in video games, though significantly preferred Zarya. It noted that she was not typical when it came to depictions of characters from the country, calling her a positive representation due to the focus on her displayed intelligence and personality. It further noted that while aspects of her design such as her military background and love for her country were common tropes in the portrayal of Russians, there was a higher emphasis on her "strength of mind, stamina, and desire to protect loved ones," and praised the emphasis of her portrayal as a hero first and foremost instead of a focus on her "Russianness".{{cite journal |language=Russian |url=http://cat.ifmo.ru/en/2019/v4-i4/221 |accessdate=June 1, 2023 |date=2019 |volume=4 |issue=4 |pages=204–213 |journal=Вестник молодых ученых Санкт-Петербургского государственного университета технологии и дизайна |title=Tendencies in Representation of Russian Culture in Computer Games |last1=Kostrova |first1=S.V. |last2=Markukhova |first2=Ya.O. |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601071717/http://cat.ifmo.ru/en/2019/v4-i4/221 |url-status=live }}

{{reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline|}}

{{Overwatch|state=expanded}}

{{Heroes of the Storm}}

Category:Female characters in video games

Category:Fictional bodybuilders

Category:Fictional female military personnel

Category:Fictional gunfighters

Category:Fictional military personnel in video games

Category:Fictional Russian military personnel

Category:Fictional Russian people in video games

Category:Fictional soldiers in video games

Category:LGBTQ culture in Russia

Category:Overwatch characters

Category:Video game characters introduced in 2016