CBU3 just slapped every gay, lesbian, trans, queer folk in the face right on Pride

[Sea-Wolf]

Dexerto recently interviewed Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida (via a translator) during a preview for the upcoming Dawntrail expansion. Yoshida was also the producer of Final Fantasy 16, so we asked whether Dawntrail would feature LGBTQ characters in the same vein as Dion.

“So, if the question is whether there is a character that is clearly expressed in that way as Dion,” Yoshida said, “Then the answer is no.”

“But this time around, the Warriors of Light will be meeting many different races, many different tribes, many different peoples. The theme of the expansion is “diversity”, so in that sense, you can expect many different encounters.”

https://www.dexerto.com/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-14s-director-confirms-dawntrail-wont-feature-any-lgtbq-characters-2759025/

Diversity includes sexuality and gender diversity! This is such a big slap in the face to everyone in the LGBTQIA+ Community, especially after Dion was released in FF16... We all thought... This expansion Dawntrial, will be the first expansion to feature a major LGBT NPC story character in the MSQ. But it's not. Does Square Enix even care about their LGBT players anymore?

[Reimmi]

Bait used to be believeable

[xbahax92]

Im gay and I dont give a single fuck about this. Can we not just play a fun game with a good story, without forcing some agenda here?

[Boblawblah]

[Sea-Wolf]

Im gay and I dont give a single fuck about this. Can we not just play a fun game with a good story, without forcing some agenda here?

Please educate yourself...

https://usustatesman.com/opinion-why...-is-important/

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the Disney Channel show “Phineas and Ferb” (2007-2012). I thought — and still think — the show was incredible and made a point to watch it every day. As a child captivated by romance, I lived for the love between two of the main characters, Phineas and Isabella.

However, no one would assume that this romance was pushing a sexual orientation onto me.

More people than ever feel comfortable identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community and as society continues to progress, this number is likely to continue growing.

With an increase in people speaking out about identifying as queer, the media has also seen an increase in queer representation. Notable movies such as 20th Century Studios’ “Love, Simon” (2018) and shows such as Netflix’s “Heartstopper” (2022-present) have showcased queer lead characters to help more of the population feel represented.

This representation has spread to kids’ media as well, but this seems to be where the biggest controversy lies.

Disney shows like “Gravity Falls” (2021-2016) and “Good Luck Charlie” (2010-2014) were criticized for including same-sex couples as background characters. When rumors surfaced about Elsa from Disney’s “Frozen” (2013) being queer, there was pushback.

So, when Disney’s “The Owl House” (2020-2023) featured the first canonically bisexual lead in a cartoon, people were angry.

A common argument against queer representation in kids’ media is that it’s enticing the kids watching to identify as queer as well.

In reality, sexual orientation is determined by brain chemistry and non-social environmental factors. In other words, the media and other people are both factors that do not contribute to sexual orientation.

Furthermore, the goal of queer representation in kids’ media is not to encourage kids to change their sexuality. Instead, the goal is to help more children feel seen and comfortable being themselves.

It’s no news that representation matters. People feel more comfortable with themselves when they see others like them, especially on a large scale. When people have others that they can identify with, they feel less alone, lowering levels of depression and anxiety.

Kids’ media is no different, and a variety of representations in such is perhaps even more important. With kids still learning how to feel about themselves, understanding that there are other people like them can help counter feelings of loneliness and isolation.

[Oizen]

Its not like the characters in this game are deeply romantic, they're all planks of wood.

[Sensui]

Just make your WOL GAF. Problem solved.

[Darkstride]

Bait used to be believeable

It doesn't even matter if it's obvious anymore, people still respond and this thread will somehow live on longer than legitimate conversations or concerns.

[Sensui]

Personally, I don't *need* to see romantic relationships in the game between NPCs.. If any of the characters are gay, straight, whatever.. does it add anything substantial to the story? Just feels like pandering ... but I guess here we are..

[Supersnow845]

I genuinely have no idea why people feel the need to have explicitly gay characters in 14 when there isn’t really explicitly straight characters either. Graha’s adoration of you can be taken as gay if you play a male WOL, same as alisaie if you are female

Full disclosure I am gay and so is my WOL, in my headcanon he is married to deryk. A lot of the social aspect of the game is built on these sort of headcanons and for a game where I’m already making my own character I’m fine to work within my own headcanons. I don’t need my homosexuality reaffirmed in a game that already doesn’t really distinguish any one character as straight or gay given you can pick either sex for your own WOL