Overwatch players believe the Tractor Dog memes are becoming a reality

While discussions regarding Season 2 of Overwatch have primarily revolved around controversial ultimate abilities and the major Mercy rework, a significant portion of the community has fixated on a singular, mysterious subject: River. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, you aren’t alone; the Overwatch subreddit has been scrambling to identify the character for the past week.

Deep within the “spray” gallery of the hero customization menu, players are greeted with a vast assortment of visuals—ranging from hero-specific icons and event exclusives to esports branding and generic “common” sprays. River, a rugged canine sporting a pair of aviator goggles, falls into the common category. Because these are universally accessible, there is no inherent link to suggest which hero River might belong to.

Here is a breakdown of the leading theories and why they likely don’t hold up:

• Murphy: Sojourn’s companion is a distinctively Corgi-esque pup, which bears little resemblance to River.
• Maisie: One of Hazard’s dogs, also a smaller, gray-toned breed that fails to match the artwork.
• Hazard’s Pack: The unnamed dogs featured in Hazard’s spray don’t share River’s features.
• Moira’s Dogs: An archived spray depicts what appear to be a Doberman and a Dachshund, neither of which resembles the River design.
• Junker Queen’s Companion: Despite rumors, there is no actual dog present in Junker Queen’s cinematic introduction.
• Freja’s Dog: While some argue the aviator goggles point toward a connection, there is zero canonical evidence that Freja owns a dog or possesses an affinity for such goggles.
• Wuyang’s Dog: A name-based theory that lacks any supporting lore or evidence.

While a random spray might seem trivial, Overwatch lore is often hidden in plain sight. Past additions like the Almendron car spray served as thematic nods to Havana events, and the Mt. Fuji art functions as a tribute to Hanamura. This season, the River spray appears alongside the “Fika” (Jetpack Cat) design, fueling speculation that Brigitte and Torbjorn might have adopted a companion for Jetpack Cat—which would certainly explain the pilot goggles.

Given its proximity to the Jetpack Cat content, the community is hopeful this is a subtle teaser for a future hero. With tanks like Winston and Wrecking Ball, plus a cat-support archetype in the mix, players are clamoring for a “dog DPS.” While “Tractor Dog” is a fan favorite, others have suggested a support-oriented dog—perhaps a St. Bernard-inspired healer that navigates maps like Esperança to provide critical aid.

Though the current hero roadmap makes no mention of a canine-based character, Overwatch has a history of leaning into eccentric concepts. Perhaps, in time, we really will get that tractor-wielding dog after all.

Source: Polygon