Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[Ayuhra]

FF14 is a wonderful game. It's beautiful, the gameplay is fluid, the lore rich, and the graphics stunning, especially in the Azim Steppe.

Part of the reason why it's so wonderful is because it is possible to fully immerse yourself in this game. Characters all have a backstory, many NPCs are fleshed out, have their own personality, and you really feel like Eorzea is a place you can live in.

However, the lack of representation of LGBT characters in this game is frustrating for a billion-dollar video gaming company. While I applaud SE for allowing the Eternal Bonding to take place between two people of the same gender, there is not much else in this game that represents LGBT characters, other than a token gay couple in Upper La Noscea.

Some people will also bring up characters like Alphinaud (weird) or Haurchefant, and say they're "WOL-sexual". But you know that they're not actually designed as gay characters. They just happened to be perceived as LGBT because of the fandom.

Many other RPGs are already fully embracing the need to represent minorities in their game, because minority representation is an important issue that affects the psychological development of minority youth.

I hope to see Square Enix do more to represent LGBT characters in their game, because by doing so they'll let LGBT youth feel like they have a place in Eorzea and feel welcomed.

I know some people will think I'm joking, but I'm not. As a LGBT PoC myself, I am deeply invested in this issue.

Haurchefant isn't considered LGBT because of the fandom, exactly. He's pansexual. It's just not very obvious in the English translation. (The Japanese version doesn't leave any room for interpretation on this)

In general I wouldn't mind more LGBT representation though. Elder Scrolls Online has had LGBT characters since day one.

[MilitaryVet123]

Haurchefant isn't considered LGBT because of the fandom, exactly. He's pansexual. It's just not very obvious in the English translation. (The Japanese version doesn't leave any room for interpretation on this)

In general I wouldn't mind more LGBT representation though. Elder Scrolls Online has had LGBT characters since day one.

Which makes it very curious why people are so mad at me asking for more representation. Surely it cannot be the rampant homophobia in this community...

[Gothicshark]

Which makes it very curious why people are so mad at me asking for more representation. Surely it cannot be the rampant homophobia in this community...

There has been an influx of players coming from a very anti-LGBT gaming community. They use to play that popular MMO from Irvine California, the one that allowed a very toxic community to thrive. The reality is Square has always been very pro-LGBTQ+, but the World isn't quite ready for all their Gay, Bi, and Trans characters to come out of the closet.

In fact, Japanese Video Game productions have always had tons of LGBTQ+ characters, sadly they use to use the term "New Type" which was a slang term for a Trans woman. Several main characters in early games were "New Type".

LGBTQ+ and Japanese games have gone hand in hand since the 80s. Final Fantasy being especially stand out in this.