Ah, lemme tell ya ’bout that character Symmetra. You see, Symmetra’s one o’ them popular folks in the game Overwatch, yeah? Now, she’s real special, ’cause turns out, she’s got somethin’ called autism. Now, I don’t know all them fancy words, but folks say autism’s somethin’ that makes ya see the world a bit different, right?
Now, they didn’t just come right out sayin’ this at first, no sir. At first, it was like a hidden little secret, ya know? Then one day, this fan fella wrote to Jeff Kaplan, who’s like the big boss behind Overwatch, askin’ ‘bout it straight up. And ol’ Jeff, he wrote back, plain as day, sayin’ yes, Symmetra’s on that autism spectrum. Made it all official-like, no more guessin’ games.

Symmetra’s Traits
See, what they say is Symmetra shows all sorts o’ things folks with autism sometimes feel. First off, she ain’t too comfortable in all that chaos—nope, she likes things neat and tidy, nice an’ ordered. Everything in its place, ya know? Then there’s the fact she gets that sensory overload, where every little noise and light can be just too much. It’s like when ya got a house full of grandkids hollerin’—there’s only so much a body can take!
Social stuff? Well, she’s not always knowin’ how to handle it easy-peasy. Maybe she don’t always get the way folks say things, or how they act. But that don’t mean she don’t care, nope, just means she sees things her own way, and that’s a-okay.
What She Teaches Us
Now, here’s where Symmetra’s got somethin’ to teach us, I reckon. She’s all about showin’ folks that havin’ autism don’t mean ya can’t do amazin’ things. She builds them turrets in the game—fancy little gadgety things that folks rely on. She’s part o’ the team, got her own way o’ doin’ things, and folks admire her for it. That game, it’s like it’s tellin’ us, “Hey, everyone’s got somethin’ special about ‘em.” And that’s somethin’ real fine, I say.
Symmetra’s story helps folks see that even if someone thinks or feels a little different, they still got a place in the world, just like everyone else. Maybe they even got their own kinda superpowers, like knowin’ how to make sense outta mess or seein’ details that others miss. That’s what Symmetra’s about, I reckon.
Representation Matters
Now, reckon I don’t know much about them big words like “representation,” but I know folks been sayin’ for years that it matters a lot. When folks see a character like Symmetra with autism, they see a bit o’ themselves or someone they love. It’s a fine thing, makes folks feel like they got a place, like they ain’t alone.
In that game Overwatch, they got all sorts o’ folks from all over the world, folks with different stories, different backgrounds. It’s like a big ol’ family reunion but with lasers an’ robots! But seein’ Symmetra there, a lady with autism, just goin’ out there doin’ her best—it means somethin’. Makes folks with autism feel like they’re part o’ the action too, an’ that’s somethin’ we could all use, feelin’ like we belong.
The Future for Symmetra Fans

So, what’s next for Symmetra? Well, reckon nobody knows for sure, but fans love her just as she is. They talk ‘bout how she makes ‘em feel seen, an’ how her story helps folks understand autism a bit better. And ol’ Jeff Kaplan makin’ it official—well, that was like a big ol’ stamp of approval. Now everyone knows, an’ that’s how it oughta be.
So, there ya have it. Symmetra’s just one character in a big ol’ game, but she’s doin’ somethin’ mighty fine by bein’ herself. That’s a lesson worth learnin’, I say, game or no game.
Tags:[Symmetra, Autism, Overwatch, Jeff Kaplan, Representation, Sensory Overload, Social Interaction]