The Face of Gaming is Changing

The Ubisoft press conference featured a rare sight for E3: two women of color commanding the stage. Angela Bassett’s inclusion in Rainbow Six Siege is more about setting the tone of the game than anything, but all around E3 this year were signs that the push for greater diversity in gaming is being taken to heart by some developers. Dishonored 2 introduced a female protagonist without first having to get raked over the coals like the Assassin’s Creed series, FIFA 16 lets you play as the Women’s National Teams, and Guerilla Games is launching a major new IP with a female lead in Horizon: Zero Dawn. It’s nothing revolutionary, but it’s encouraging to see the normally risk-averse gaming industry make efforts towards greater inclusivity.