Gaming is now deeply embedded in the lives of billions of players across the world. It’s a form of entertainment – and for some, a viable career – that transcends all demographic limitations, appealing to a diverse range of people belonging to different cultures, ethnicities, genders, and ages.
With gaming now being a creative outlet and statement of expression for so many, the industry has had to shake off previous associations of machismo and “nerd culture” in order to stay relevant and appealing.
In this article, we’ll be tracing the steps key segments within the industry have made towards wider social inclusion, as well as looking at the work that still needs to be done in terms of diverse representation.
The Potential of Gaming to Empower
In recent years, several studies have been conducted into the potential of digital gaming for social inclusion and empowerment. The resulting research literature suggests that games can be a powerful tool for bridging the gap between different socio-economic groups.
Take the iGaming sector, for example. Traditionally, specific dress codes were a requirement to attend prestigious casinos, making casino gaming more of an exclusive activity. In the digital realm, however, adult gamers can choose to log on to gaming platforms without having to worry about meeting the etiquette norms of attending a brick and mortar venue. This opens up the sector to a broader audience of players who will feel empowered to compete in the online space.
Leading operators have also taken strides towards including and protecting players belonging to minority groups, such as female players or those residing in developing countries. The anonymity that comes with competing in these types of games online makes it a much more welcoming space for those who could face harassment or discrimination in real-life settings.
The Game-Makers Pushing for Representation
Behind the scenes, gaming is the leading sector in the creative industries when it comes to representation in the workplace. 10% of professionals working in gaming in the UK are from BAME backgrounds, 28% are women, 2% are non-binary, and a total of 21% identify as LGBT. While it’s true that the majority of the workforce is still comprised of white males, nevertheless, diversity of is the utmost importance to a key number of game-makers.
Ninja Theory, BioWare and ReSpawn Entertainment are three such game publishers who are creating gripping, relevant gaming titles that don’t just cater to a single-demographic perspective. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice places a female character at its heart, providing an accurate representation not just of the demonisation women face on a daily basis, but also touches on mental health issues.
The battle royale hit, Apex Legends, features a diverse roster of characters. Even though the game is set in a fantasy world, it nevertheless has a roll call of characters for gamers to choose that are people you rarely see represented in games of this nature. Interestingly, out of all the characters that are playable in Apex Legends, only three are white, with the majority people characters of colour or members of the LGBT community
Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Last of Us Part II (Naughty Dog) meanwhile, have reached new ground in gaming by presenting openly trans main characters. The former’s Krem has a detailed backstory that broaches the subject with care and sensitivity, while the llatter’s Lev is voiced by trans actor Ian Alexander.
There’s Still Work to Do
Despite the welcome progress video gaming has made in recent years, there’s still plenty of work to be done both in terms of increasing representation of diverse communities in the business ecosystem of gaming as well as on the small screen.
Video games have been part of mainstream culture for decades now, and there’s a strong case for saying that representation hasn’t come nearly as far as it should have by 2022. Placed, as it so often is, at the cutting edge of innovation, it’s time that AAA games developers and major gaming tech corporations upped their social inclusion and diversity possibilities to make gaming welcoming and relevant to as many people as possible.
