Eurogamer is once again marking Pride with another week of features celebrating the intersection of LGBTQIA+ culture and gaming.
Unfortunately, progress is neither linear nor equal.
Gay representation in video games was pretty well established before trans folks even got a look in.
On the surface, asexuality and aromanticism are pretty simple concepts.
Feelings about sex also vary immensely between ace people.
It’s all incredibly confusing.
And being ace or aro can become even more complicated when it involves relationships.
She tells you of her fears about her asexuality.
“What if she’s not okay with that?
What if sheis, but then, later, she’s not?”
The dialogue options that followed, however, were more than worth that brief moment of discomfort.
“We have that in common, you know.
Actually getting to express my asexuality, particularly outside of a player-focussed romantic relationship, was a watershed moment.
There’s even a follow up option to say you’re aro as well.
Parvati’s response, however, was what really turned on the waterworks.
“So we’re… we’re kin-like.
That makes me, well- unaccountably happy, Captain.
It’s a lonely thing, being different like this.”
Being different from the assumed default can be incredibly isolating.
It’s subtle and insidious, but it’s powerful, especially over time.
