Overwatch is one of the most popular first-person shooter games today, inspiring memes like "I'm already Tracer" and "I need healing". While many fans of the game converge around popular characters like Tracer and Mercy, a sometimes sidelined character named Winston has been making a splash in Overwatch meme circles thanks to Blizzard's decision to release a plushie in his honor.

Here's how Winston the super-intelligent tank hero became the subject of a meme that turned him into Winton Overwat.

Where Does The 'Winton Overwat' Meme Come From?

While Overwatch the game was released in 2016, the earliest known post using a deliberate misspelling of the character Winston's name can be traced to a May 9th, 2017 post on Amino Apps.

The earliest viral instance of Winston's name being misspelled is a March 29th, 2019 post to Reddit's /r/comedyheaven, where someone calls the superintelligent gorilla a "monkey" and proceeds to spell his name wrong.

Where Did The 'Winton Overwat' Plushie Meme Come From?

Blizzard released a small Winston plushie in May 2016, a discontinued toy that has since become a rare commodity among "in-the-know" Overwatch fans. A few months after its debut, the plushie began making appearances in Reddit Overwatch communities, as seen in an April 2019 meme and a February 2020 meme.

How Did The 'Winton Overwat' Plushie Meme Spread?

The meme spread to TikTok in 2020, with Overwatch players making jokes and references to the now-popular misspelling as they played the game. Videos like those posted by TikTokers @spiderdum and @yawnymays gathered nearly a million plays apiece.

@spiderdum Winton #fyp #foryou #winton #winston #overwatch #overwatch2 #sigma #whatisthatmelody #GenshinImpact32 ♬ WHAT IS THAT MELODY – 💙🪐Lucy🪐💙

@yawnymays WINTON! #overwatch2 #overwatchclips #overwatchtrolling #overwatchfunnymoments #winstonoverwatch2 #frontpageforyou #streamer #overwatchtroll ♬ original sound – Yawny Mays

What Are Some More 'Winton' Memes?

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For the full history of Winton Overwat, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.