An online game 'allowing' players to create transgender characters - discuss?

29 replies

CrystalSingerFan · 06/10/2025 17:11

OK. First post on FWR.

Here's something from an Observer Sensemaker email. "It’s in the game:

A consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has agreed to acquire video game maker Electronic Arts for $55 billion. It is the biggest ever leveraged buyout...

Concerns. Some gamers worry that Saudi Arabia’s new part-ownership of EA will lead to the censorship of games featuring LGBTQ content. These include ...

Dragon Age, which allows players to create transgender characters..."

I know absolutely nothing about gaming but I'm interested in the idea of folks wanting to be transgender characters. Unless I'm missing something, if you're transgender you're just, magically, the opposite biological sex? Which you would choose to play as? Assuming Dragon Age permits two sexes to play?

OP posts:

BettyFilous · 07/10/2025 18:01

TorturedParentsDepartment · 07/10/2025 09:21

I met my husband getting on for 20 years ago in an MMORPG - he played a female character just because if he was going to be staring at his character's arse all day, it may as well be an aesthetically pleasing one. (He claims it was the increased agility stat which is just a lie and he knows it)

People have always played different characters, sexes and races in games... you know - that shit they play for escapism!

Posts like this are why I spend far too much time on MN. 😄

Original poster

CrystalSingerFan · 07/10/2025 18:25

StormyPotatoes · 06/10/2025 17:32

The OP was talking about Dragon Age, which most of the games are single player RPG, so that’s a different issue entirely. I think OP is asking why someone would play a specifically trans character rather than just one of the desired sex.

In terms of online gaming though, yes the misogyny is horrendous. I’ve used to play World of Warcraft and would hide that I was a woman in pick up groups (by not talking unless necessarily). Playing a female character makes no difference though - about 90% of female characters are played by men anyway (stat entirely made up, but the jist was somewhat correct).

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"In terms of online gaming though, yes the misogyny is horrendous." Interesting. Dare I ask why you think that is? (Obvs, I know nothing about gaming, see PP, etc. Although, FWIW, I'm old enough to have played the text-based 'Adventure' (Colossal Cave) on an RM 380Z 😂)

However, if, as a PP reckons: "In the Sims you can create a male or female character but then choose voice, whether they can get pregnant/impregnate someone, pee standing up (I think?!) separately." Sounds inclusive?

OP posts:

OnAShooglyPeg · 07/10/2025 18:45

CrystalSingerFan · 07/10/2025 18:25

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I'd suggest researching "Gamergate" for more information on some of the misogyny in gaming.

I've never played The Sims but I would guess that it's less a matter of overt inclusivity and more a programming limitation? Someone more knowledgeable on game development/programming might be able to comment.

There are also issues of toxic masculinity culture more broadly, but in some instances I think at least part of the gaming community are pushing back on the "woke" content ("go woke, go broke") and pushing back on certain elements that seem to be inserted as part of designing by committee. I don't particularly agree with a lot of what this section of the gaming community say, but I would agree that there are issues of the portrayal of some female characters and their writing. We might dislike them for different reasons, but I think we could at least agree that there are issues.

Crwysmam · 08/10/2025 23:45

My DS plays Fortnight and other combat style games as a female avatar, never asked if it’s trans, he’s a 6’3” heterosexual rugby player ( well I think he is , defo plays rugby). He claims it’s because it freaks out other players when they hear his voice but maybe like TorturedParentsDepartment*’s DH it’s more about the rear view. I will ask him when he’s next home.

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