Bobby Kim, Lead Concept Artist at Blizzard Korea Studio, revealed the creation process behind Overwatch's new heroes, Jetpack Cat and D.Mon. At the 'Overwatch Day' event in Busan, he shared the thought process behind turning characters that existed only in concept for a long time into actual playable heroes, highlighting their evolution from early sketches to final designs.

Lead Concept Artist Bobby Kim participated in developing the concept art for Jetpack Cat and D.Mon, both introduced this year. Jetpack Cat in particular was the very first hero development project Kim worked on. While he previously introduced parts of the development process alongside Game Director Aaron Keller in an official video, at this event he showcased early ideas and sketches that had not been revealed at the time.

The origin of Jetpack Cat dates back 10 years. In an early concept image revealed around the launch of Overwatch in 2016, a cat named 'Pika' appeared, sparking long-standing requests from players who wanted to see a flying cat hero in the actual game. The development team was well aware of these expectations and eventually began turning the idea of a cat riding a jetpack into an official hero.

The challenge was that it was not as simple as just strapping a jetpack onto a cat. The team had to redesign various elements from scratch, including what posture Pika should assume when mounted and piloting to look natural, how it should look when another ally rides along, and how to implement fun movement in actual combat. Selecting a few from numerous draft designs, they developed the attack methods and mounting structures, while also designing ways for the cat to operate the craft using its front paws.

Melee attacks were also examined in a different light initially. Early in development, there was an idea for a so-called 'Cat Dropkick' where the cat would kick directly, but after repeated reviews, the 'Cat Paw Punch' familiar to players today was selected as the final form. The pilot's appearance was also decided after comparing various breeds and colors, settling on a chubby, friendly ginger tabby (Korean Shorthair), a breed easily seen in Korea.

Specific details actively incorporated feline traits. The controller was built in a structure resembling a cat's paw pad to apply a "cat-ergonomic" design, and the gun muzzle was also shaped like a paw pad. Through action sketches, the team also aimed to express Pika's dual personality—clever and aggressive in battle, but an ordinary, cute cat in everyday life. Artist Bobby Kim shared that seeing memes and fan content flood in from around the world following Jetpack Cat's reveal was immensely rewarding as a developer.

D.Mon, introduced next, was a project with a different kind of significance for artist Bobby Kim. He stated that participating in the concept art creation for a new Korean hero as a Korean developer was meaningful, adding that being able to share the development process directly in Busan—D.Mon's home base—made it even more special.

D.Mon is the leader of the MEKA Squad, possessing a distinctly different demeanor from D.Va (Hana Song). The development team focused on maintaining the core traits fans knew from existing lore while making her feel fresh as a new hero. Just as D.Va evolved from her initial design, the team reviewed various silhouettes and mounting structures for D.Mon to inherit her existing image while giving a naturally upgraded impression.

A key challenge was highlighting pilot Yuna Lee's presence. The development team refined the design so that Yuna would be clearly visible piloting the mech directly from the front, while ensuring the personalities of both pilot and mech stood out. Her character—appearing cold and rough on the outside, but acting as a highly responsible leader who protects her teammates on the front lines in battle—also served as an important criterion for the design. On the flip side, adding lore that she quietly builds plastic models as a hobby when alone added depth to her character.

The final D.Mon was completed with a more aggressive silhouette, emphasizing her image as a Tank hero wielding a sword and shield. Combined with the work of developers across hero design, 3D art, animation, and tech art, another Korean hero was born following D.Va. Artist Bobby Kim expressed, "As a Korean Overwatch developer working in Korea, I am thrilled to be part of this project," and asked fans to look forward to D.Mon's future in the game.