Who was Cassidy originally named after?

The gunslinging outlaw hero formerly known as Jesse McCree in the popular video game Overwatch recently received a new moniker – Cole Cassidy. This name change came in the wake of controversy surrounding sexual harassment allegations at Overwatch developer Blizzard Entertainment. According to reports, the original McCree name was a reference to a former Blizzard employee accused of misconduct.

So who, or what, inspired the new handle Cole Cassidy? Here‘s a deep dive into the history and meaning behind this new Overwatch character name.

Why Did Jesse McCree Become Cole Cassidy?

First, some background on the name change. The cowboy hero McCree rode into Overwatch when the game launched in 2016. However, in July 2021, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard alleging sexual harassment and discrimination against female employees.

This lawsuit kickstarted an internal reckoning at Blizzard. Many began questioning whether it was appropriate for Overwatch‘s McCree to share a name with a real-life Blizzard developer accused of misconduct as part of the lawsuit.

According to reports, the Overwatch character McCree was named after Diablo 4 lead designer Jesse McCree – one of the implicated Blizzard employees. In August 2021, Activision Blizzard announced McCree would be leaving the company. Shortly after, Overwatch officials declared they would change the character‘s name.

Cole Cassidy – A Nod to Old West Outlaw Butch Cassidy?

When Blizzard unveiled the new name Cole Cassidy in October 2021, many fans immediately assumed it referenced Butch Cassidy – the notorious American train and bank robber from the late 1800s.

Cassidy headed up a famous gang of Wild West outlaws dubbed the "Wild Bunch." The gunslinging criminal would seem a fitting inspiration for Overwatch‘s gun-toting cowboy character.

Not to mention, the classic 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid immortalized Cassidy‘s Wild West antics. The movie title even nods to Cassidy‘s gang.

Given these connections, Butch Cassidy appears the mostly likely origin for the newly christened Cole Cassidy. However, Blizzard has not officially confirmed the outlaw reference.

The Meaning Behind the Name Cassidy

Setting aside potential Wild West links, the name Cassidy itself carries noteworthy meanings.

As an Irish surname, Cassidy derives from the Gaelic name Ó Caiside. This translates loosely to "descendant of Caiside."

According to Irish clan heritage sites, nearly all Cassidys originate from the County Fermanagh region of Northern Ireland. The name became prevalent across Ireland and beyond as Cassidys spread out over the centuries into various professions.

So in a broad sense, Cassidy has firm Irish and Gaelic roots. In fact, the prefix "O‘" found in Ó Caiside signifies an Irish surname, as opposed to Scottish surnames using "Mc-" or "Mac-".

Meanwhile, as a given first name, Cassidy takes on some added meanings:

• In Gaelic, it means "curly-headed"
• In Christian traditions, Cassidy means "entangler of men" or "she who entangles men." An old Irish tale describes a Cassidy as a mythical female figure who stuns St. Patrick.
• The name can also signify "cleverness", as one story interprets Cassidy as "the clever one."

Finally, Cassidy has a loose biblical connection as a variation of Cassandra. This name traces back to the Trojan prophetess Cassandra in Greek mythology. So in summary, Cassidy draws from Irish, Gaelic, and Christian roots.

Notable People Named Cassidy

A few of the most well-known Cassidys include:

• Butch Cassidy: The infamous Old West outlaw as already discussed. His real first name was Robert.
• David Cassidy: 1970s TV/pop star who played Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family. Also a singer-songwriter.
• Shaun Cassidy: Actor/singer and half-brother to David Cassidy who appeared on TV‘s The Hardy Boys in the 1970s.
• Patrick Cassidy: Actor and composer known for Broadway roles. Son of Shirley Jones and stepson of David Cassidy.

So while the name first grew popular in Ireland, it expanded through prominent cultural figures like David Cassidy. The moniker breezed into the American mainstream by the 1960s and 1970s.

The Controversy Behind the Jesse McCree Name Change

To close this name analysis, it helps to revisit the real-world context behind Cole Cassidy‘s change from Jesse McCree.

As mentioned earlier, the name switch stemmed from accusations against the former Blizzard developer Jesse McCree. California‘s lawsuit against Activision Blizzard called out McCree as a member of the so-called "Cosby Suite" group.

This suite housed Blizzard senior male employees at the infamous 2013 BlizzCon accused of sexual misconduct and harassment by former employees. By carrying the same name, Overwatch‘s McCree character became entangled in this real-world controversy.

After Jesse McCree and other implicated employees exited Blizzard in 2021, the company sought to remove all real-world employee references from its games. This meant no more Overwatch McCree.

The Coyle Cassidy switch marked one step towards Blizzard moving on from these dark times and controversies. However, naming a new hero after an oldWild West outlaw still feels quite on brand for the developer!

So in summary, while honoring a folk hero like Butch Cassidy, the rechristened Cole Cassidy sheds direct ties to the disgraced former Blizzard employee sharing that name. This allows Overwatch to march into a new era with a fresh cowboy identity.