LGBTQ in video games: That must make games even better

same-sex love and a respectful handling of topics around the LGBTQ community, are still too rare in video games. In some places it will be better, but others, however, the gaming industry seems to occur on the spot. Let's take a look at what happened in recent years and what needs to change.

Queer Gaming: What has happened?

Even in 2021, queer topics were not offered a large platform again. In Life is Strange: True Colors were able to enter players and players after all, a same-sex relationship, but that was already with the representation in AAA games. Sure, there was still Skyrim: Anniversary Edition, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition and the Remake of Near Replica — but these were all new ones old games.

In such a barren gaming year as 2021 it was, but that's no wonder, right? Well, a look at the previous year also leaves more mixed feelings.

The Last of US 2

The Last of US 2 has made Ellie to the main actress and gave her and her friend an important place in his action — that was a large and important step for same-sex relations in AAA games. The representation of the trans character in Tlou2 is considered by many as more critical than the same-sex love of the protagonist.

Thus, Julie Munch describes in an article for The Washington Post that LEV, a young trans man in the game, works extremely realistic and coach. Unfortunately, LEV's story is a full of pain and suffering — a narrative, which trans people in mainstream media is repeatedly pressed. Besides, his background, as well as the revealing his birth name, seemed to be brought to the game, especially for shock.

Tell Me Why

In 2020, Tell Me Why appeared — another game of Life is Strange developer, which even makes a trans man to the protagonist. In collaboration with real trans persists, a complex and realistic character was created, whose history is respectfully told. It is shown his passport, but there is also hope for a happy ending for him. Without the drama and tension of the game is lost.

Cyberpunk 2077

Of course, we also have to talk about Cyberpunk 2077 at this point. The ambitious open-world game has failed to release on such some places and tries to correct its mistakes ever since. That the game in terms of LGBTQ but scratches at most on the surface, remains for the time being.

For example, gambling may freely choose a mix of different voices and types of body for their character, which has ever been a step in the right direction. Stupidly, but the sex is not chosen chosen, but is made dependent on the voting layer.

An advertisement in the game had been caused for properly criticism. A trans woman was extremely shaped with an erection — in the context with the advertised product, this looked for many as a funny about trans persons.

Under the slogan Mix it up, a product called Chrranticore is advertised, whose name refers to a mythical animal, which is composed of various animals. This equal to trans women is designated by many voices from the queer community, especially affected, as tasteless joke. (Source: Screen rant)

What do video games do well?

The given examples are only from the past two years, but show clearly, in which direction LGBT topics develop in video games. In general, there are still too little queer characters in Games. But if they occur, then the same-sex relationships are reprecipitated and realistic — at least in Western AAA games.

Japanese giant companies like Nintendo and Atlas have not necessarily been unconditional with fame in recent years:

Here, it should be said that of course not all Japanese game developers can let scissors about a comb. Games like the Danganronpa series and also the remake to Catherine, which translates Comments canceled and has become queerer in other places, here are positive examples.

What needs to be better?

For the progress in the LAB area ( Lesbian, Gay, bisexual ), other topics are often left outside — or only for cheap plot twists and bad jokes are used. What's new is not: Several years ago, jokes have been made regularly across gays in video games. They were almost exclusively shown as cartoons, instead of real persons.

With regard to games like cyberpunk 2077, this is still happening today — but now with trans persons. It is hopefully only a matter of time, until the topic is normalized enough for the revelation of the birth name of a trans person no topic More and is not funny about transitions.

But it has to continue to give developer studios that goes to the topic and, ideally, to get involved in the boat.

What is still missing?

Other parts of the LGBTQ community will probably be underrepresented for a long time.

Agnosia, a small Among US similar game for the Nintendo Switch, at least offers the possibility to put your own sex on non-binary — and even has two characters in the game, which identify yourself accordingly.

And even interlayer characters are still rarely. Near Replica can attract with a Caine, but otherwise the topic is extremely rarely a place in gaming.

Maine is one of the best representations for LGBTQ characters in games. Other great, and also negative examples, you will find in this picture line:

It is a pity that big companies are still too often back in front of these topics — or then when trying to rebuild prejudices and otherwise harmful in their games. Let's hope that developers take the criticism of the community to heart and still improve the situation.