The Outer Worlds' Parvati Holcomb is a rare but shining example of asexual representation
Hello! Eurogamer is once again marking Pride with another week of features celebrating the intersection of LGBTQIA+ culture and gaming. Today, Caelyn Ellis explores Obisdian Entertainment's sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds and its stand-out portrayal of asexuality in a medium where ace and aromantic identities are rarely seen. LGBTQIA+ representation in mainstream video games has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of decades, both in terms of NPCs and the ability to portray your own character's gender and sexuality through customisation options and dialogue. In a remarkably short period of time, we've gone from Mass Effect's lesbian romance being the subject of a positively quaint outcry, to the big, gay love-in of Baldur's Gate 3, complete with more dragon willy options than a custom sex toy vendor.Unfortunately, progress is neither linear nor equal. Gay representation in video games was pretty well established before trans folks even got a look in. And while that's begi
Hello! Eurogamer is once again marking Pride with another week of features celebrating the intersection of LGBTQIA+ culture and gaming. Today, Caelyn Ellis explores Obisdian Entertainment's sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds and its stand-out portrayal of asexuality in a medium where ace and aromantic identities are rarely seen.
LGBTQIA+ representation in mainstream video games has gone from strength to strength over the past couple of decades, both in terms of NPCs and the ability to portray your own character's gender and sexuality through customisation options and dialogue. In a remarkably short period of time, we've gone from Mass Effect's lesbian romance being the subject of a positively quaint outcry, to the big, gay love-in of Baldur's Gate 3, complete with more dragon willy options than a custom sex toy vendor.
Unfortunately, progress is neither linear nor equal. Gay representation in video games was pretty well established before trans folks even got a look in. And while that's beginning to change, it's another example of society's tendency toward cycles of acceptance and backlash - as groups become more visible and are then targeted by bigots and reactionaries. If you've wondered why transgender people suddenly became a hot topic a few years ago, it's just history repeating.
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