Tracer, the iconic time-jumping hero of Overwatch, could have been vastly different if early development concepts had persisted. Game director Aaron Keller revealed that during the initial engine development in late 2013, before a projectile system was fully implemented, Tracer fired "two red lines" directly from her eyes.
This unusual iteration occurred because the game was firing weapons from the camera's perspective, resulting in laser-like visual effects originating from Tracer's head. Developers described these early moments as enjoyable, with the team running around the game environment "shooting lasers at each others." While this laser-eyed version was eventually replaced by Tracer's signature pulse pistols, the concept of eye-based lasers has not been entirely abandoned.
When asked about the possibility of introducing a hero who shoots lasers from their eyes in the future, associate game director Alec Dawson responded with enthusiasm. "I think shooting lasers out of your eyes is pretty cool. Yeah, we can figure something out," Dawson stated. He further commented on the open-ended nature of hero design in Overwatch, suggesting that "the possibilities are endless." Dawson even jokingly suggested that GameSpot's Jessica Cogswell should receive credit if such a hero were to be implemented. Although Blizzard has not announced any plans for a laser-eyed character, the discussion indicates that the development team is receptive to the idea, leaving the door open for future roster additions that could incorporate this unique mechanic. This creative exploration aligns with Overwatch's history of evolving hero abilities, as exemplified by the upcoming character Doctrine and reworks for existing heroes.