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((good article))
((short description|Fictional character in the 2016 video game Overwatch))
((Use mdy dates|date=July 2023))
((DISPLAYTITLE:Zarya (''Overwatch'')))
((Infobox character
| name        = Zarya
| image       = Zarya.png
| alt         =
| caption     = Zarya's appearance in ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]''.
| series      = [[Overwatch]]
| designer    = Arnold Tsang<ref name="polygon sxsw"/>
| creator     = Geoff Goodman<ref name="hots"/>
| firstgame   = ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]'' (2016)
| voice       = [[Dolya Gavanski]]<ref name="pushkin"/>
| class       = [[Characters of Overwatch#Tank heroes|Tank]]
| origin      = [[Siberia]], [[Russia]] 
| nationality = [[Russians|Russian]]
))
'''Zarya''', full name '''Aleksandra Zaryanova''', is an ''[[Overwatch]]'' character who first appears in the 2016 [[Overwatch (video game)|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.

==Conception and design==
[[File:Zarya-particlecannon.png|thumb|left|Her weapon went through several designs, with the bottom being the finalized look. The text on the side is ''мститель'' in Russian ("Avenger"),<ref name="vsb"/> though in earlier concept art it read ''мщение'' ("Vengeance")<ref name="book125"/>]]
Developed for ''[[Overwatch (video game)|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.<ref>((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=[[Polygon (website)|Heroes Never Die]] |last=Cass |first=Marshall |accessdate=June 2, 2023 |date=October 5, 2018))</ref> 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."<ref name="polygon sxsw">((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 (website)|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 ))</ref> 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.<ref>((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 ))</ref> Her design was inspired by one of Blizzard's 3D artists, Tamara Bakhlycheva, particularly her hair color and style.<ref>((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 ))</ref> ''Overwatch'' director [[Jeff Kaplan]] noted her as an example of how character designs challenge the stereotypes of their character types.<ref>((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 ))</ref> The development team noted that unlike many characters in the game, Zarya's development from early concept to completion was "surprisingly smooth".<ref name="hots">((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))</ref>

Standing approximately 1.95 m (6' 5"),<ref name=Cospguide>((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))</ref> 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.<ref name="book122"/> 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.<ref name="book125"/> 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.<ref name="book122">((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))</ref> The number is meant to represent the character's weight lifting world record in kilograms, and in an earlier version read 312 instead.<ref name="book125">((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))</ref>

Like other ''Overwatch'' characters, Zarya received [[Skin (computing)#Video gaming|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.<ref name="book225">((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))</ref> Several of her skins however were modified during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], with Blizzard removing the [[Z (military symbol)|"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.<ref>((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 (website)|Polygon]] ))</ref>

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.<ref>((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))</ref>

==Appearances==
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 bodybuilding and weightlifer, and was expected to break a number of records in the world championships. However dormant omnics reactivated in the area on the even of the tournament, and she withdrew from the competition to join local defense forces.<ref name=Bio>((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))))</ref> To this end she uses a particle cannon, originally stated to have been torn off an enemy vessel,<ref name="vsb">((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))</ref> but later [[retconned]] to be a company's experimental weapon deemed too heavy for others to use.<ref name=Bio/> 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''.<ref name="hots"/> Zarya also returned for ''Overwatch 2''.<ref name=Bio/> In all appearances, Zarya is voiced by Dolya Gavanski.<ref name="pushkin">((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))</ref>

Her story is further fleshed out in the digital [[comic book]] series, first appearing in ''Zarya: Searching'', the fifteenth issue of the 2016 [[Overwatch (digital comic series)|''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 (Overwatch)|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.<ref>((Cite comic |issue=15 |title=[[Overwatch (digital comic series)|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))</ref> Later she appears in the fourth issue of ''Overwatch''(('))s ''New Blood'' comic miniseries, where [[gunslinger]] [[Cassidy (Overwatch)|Cassidy]] asks her to join the global peace-keeping force "Overwatch", and she accepts after they defend her hometown from omnic forces.<ref>((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=[[Irene Koh|Koh, Irene]] |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]))</ref> She later fights alongside him and the other Overwatch members as they protect the [[South Korea]]n city of [[Busan]] from attack in issue 5.<ref>((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=[[Irene Koh|Koh, Irene]] |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]))</ref>

===Gameplay===
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.<ref name=Carter2016>((cite web|last=Carter|first=Chris|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/23/11744852/overwatch-character-guide|title=Overwatch character guide|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date=May 23, 2016|accessdate=September 27, 2022))</ref> 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.<ref>((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))</ref> This shield absorbs incoming attacks and projectiles until its duration expires or it absorbs a certain amount of damage.<ref name=guide-1/> 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.<ref name=Carter2016/> 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.<ref name=guide-1>((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))</ref>

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."<ref name="hots"/>

While most of this gameplay was adapted for her appearance in ''Heroes of the Storm'', she was given a second ultimate ability option, called "Expulsion Zone", which was designed as an alternative to Graviton Surge and expels enemies from the area for a brief period of time.<ref>((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))</ref> In ''[[Overwatch 2]]'', Zarya has resistance to attacks that cause knockbacks, due to a new passive ability given to all "Tank" class characters.<ref name="Carr">((Cite web |last=Vazz |first=Christian |date=March 2023 |title=Overwatch 2 roles and role queue explained |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/overwatch-2/roles |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=PCGamesN))</ref>

==Promotion and reception==
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]].<ref>((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!))</ref> The next month she was unveiled as a playable character at the [[PAX East]] convention in 2015.<ref>((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/))</ref> Since then she has been featured on various merchandise such as hoodies,<ref>((cite web |website=[[Polygon (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))</ref> promotional images themed around holidays,<ref>((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))</ref> and an action figure by Hasbro, with a black and yellow armor variant released as an exclusive for [[GameStop]] stores.<ref>((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))</ref>

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]].<ref>((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))</ref><ref>((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 |accessdate=June 1, 2023|website=[[Kotaku]]))</ref> 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, calling her a response by Blizzard to accusations of a lack of diversity in their female character design, and felt that her inclusion in the game led to conversation opportunities.<ref name="kz">((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))</ref> 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."<ref>((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]]))</ref> 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".<ref>((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|Kotaku Australia]] |language=en-AU))</ref>

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,<ref name="kotaku"/> a sentiment shared by fellow contributor Nathan Grayson.<ref>((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]]))</ref> 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.<ref name="kotaku">((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]]))</ref>

Due to her Russian ethnicity, build, and large weapon, she has been compared to [[Heavy Weapons Guy]] from ''[[Team Fortress 2]]''.<ref>((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]]))</ref> 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".<ref>((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=[[:ru:Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет промышленных технологий и дизайна|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.))</ref>

==References==
((reflist|2))

((Overwatch))
((Heroes of the Storm))
[[Category:Female characters in animated films]]
[[Category:Female characters in comics]]
[[Category:Female characters in video games]]
[[Category:Female soldier and warrior characters in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional bodybuilders]]
[[Category:Fictional female gunfighters]]
[[Category:Fictional female military personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional military personnel in video games]]
[[Category:Fictional Russian military personnel]]
[[Category:Fictional Russian people in video games]]
[[Category:LGBT culture in Russia]]
[[Category:Overwatch characters]]
[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 2016]]

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