Summer Game Fest 2024 featured several games with diverse characters

Tempered expectations were the name of the game heading into Summer Game Fest 2024. Geoff Keighley even predicted the event would be a “six,” ruffling some feathers before showtime. But coming out of SGF 2024, there’s a lot to be excited about for the rest of this year and beyond. One thing that stood out is the growing diversity seen in several of the games presented. It’s an interesting and much-needed step as the industry continues to move toward a stronger representation of the society, we all live in every day.

Incessant culture warmongers attempt to convince the masses that diversity in gaming is a “problem.” With little evidence or factual data, the wide argument is that diversity in gaming is “forced” due to some hidden agenda. Compare that to the actual data about who is playing video games and it’s clear that players represent a full range of people from various backgrounds, genders, nationalities, ethnicities, beliefs, and more. As gaming continues to grow, it makes sense for the industry to reflect more of the people who play and live in this world. That means games with characters that look quite different than they did years ago.

SGF 2024 shows how slow growth continues in gaming. Several games featured main/featured characters of a diverse nature. What’s even more important is that these games run the full range of sizes and expectations, from big-budget draws to smaller independent titles.

South Of Midnight, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, Mixtape, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Perfect Dark, Wanderstop, Disco Samurai, Creatures of Ava, DoubleShake, and Neon Blood are just ten games of many games presented during the week that included main characters that fit within demographics that would be considered “diverse.”  These titles are of varying sizes and stature but represent a growing change within the industry. What’s important to note is that even the biggest presentations featured main characters of note.

Take Star Wars Outlaws as an example. One of the two featured Ubisoft titles has a lot of hype around it. Set to be released on August 30, there’s a lot to like about what’s been shown to date. The main character, Kay Vess, is the focal point. Vess is portrayed by Venezuelan-born actress Humberly Gonzalez, causing many to recognize Vess’s strong Latina features.

Ubisoft’s other big title this year is in a similar place. Assassin’s Creed Shadows features two minorities in the main character roles: the female ninja, Naoe, and the samurai, Yasuke. Both characters were met with various versions of “outrage,” but this is still one of the biggest titles set to be released in 2024.

Seeing a major player in gaming like Ubisoft, and several other developers putting forth games that feature a story around a character of color matters. Representation matters in spaces such as gaming. Creating worlds where players see themselves in main characters is more welcoming. Hopefully, that draws players into more titles, which means more revenue over time. While some of these organizations may do so with the bottom line in focus, it is still a positive step to art of this fashion developed featuring marginalized peoples.

Summer Game Fest 2024 should be considered a success. There’s a lot to look forward to in gaming. Especially as the industry continues to make strides in presenting something for everyone.