| Zarya | |
|---|---|
| Overwatch character | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Zarya.png) Zarya's appearance in Overwatch | |
| First game | Overwatch (2016) |
| Created by | Geoff Goodman[1] |
| Designed by | Arnold Tsang[2] |
| Voiced by | Dolya Gavanski[3] |
| In-universe information | |
| Class | Tank |
| Origin | Siberia, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian |
Zarya, full name Aleksandra Zaryanova, is an Overwatch character who first appears in the 2016 video game of the same name, a Blizzard Entertainment–developed first-person shooter. Voiced by Dolya Gavanski, Zarya is a Siberian champion weightlifter who enlists in a local defense force after her home comes under attack from robotic forces, later joining the restored peacekeeping force Overwatch. Conceived due to Geoff Goodman's desire to include a heavy weapon wielding character into the game, she was designed by Arnold Tsang after watching a weightlifting competition, feeling the concept would make for a strong character. Since her introduction, she has appeared in various spinoff media related to the franchise, including comics and merchandise, and later in another Blizzard developed title, Heroes of the Storm.
Zarya was seen by some as a response to criticisms against the game's original previewed female cast. Well received since her debut, her appearance has been cited as a positive deviation from the standard female character design and inspirational by others. Despite her sexuality not being explicitly discussed by Blizzard, many Western fans have viewed her as a lesbian, though journalists have noted this perception is not necessarily shared amongst Russian players. A Russian paper examining video game characters stated to be from that country heavily praised her as a deviation from the norm, calling Zarya a positive representation of the country and its people and further praising her character and personality as a whole.