Blizzard Can't Add All National Flags in Overwatch Summer Games Because of Legal Problems

The newest iteration of the Overwatch Summer Games added more player icons of national flags to the game, to the delight of many players. Not every flag is available as an icon, though, and Overwatch fans noticed the Polish flag was removed shortly after it was added.

​Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan explained Blizzard tries to include as many flags as it legally can, hinting that legal restrictions prevent the team from adding a flag from every nation. 

​​An Overwatch fan asked how Blizzard determined which flags it would add in the ​recent Summer Games event. Previously, the flags players could obtain as player icons were majorly linked to the nationalities of Blizzard's in-game Overwatch heroes. Kaplan explained the team adds as many flags as it legally is able to. "If we had it our way, every nation's flag would be in the game," the post read. 

When asked about the Polish flag which was removed from Overwatch, Kaplan revealed Blizzard's legal team was behind the decision. "Our EU legal team made us remove it."

The ​Summer Games will run until Aug. 30.

Cover photo courtesy of Blizzard