The Rise of Black Women in Video Games: A Long-Awaited Shift

In recent years, AAA video games have seen a notable absence of Black female protagonists, with Forspoken being one of the few exceptions. Despite the positive reception of its protagonist, Alfre 'Frey' Holland, the gaming industry still has a long way to go in terms of representation and diversity. The slow growth of Black-led characters in AAA games risks further alienating Black consumers, who are already underrepresented in the industry. Black female characters do exist in games, but they are often relegated to supporting roles, as seen in games like God of War: Ragnarok and Overwatch 2. The shooting game genre, in particular, is dominated by male protagonists, with few opportunities for Black women to take center stage. While women are represented in action-centric games, Black women are noticeably absent, with rare exceptions like D'Arci Stern from Urban Chaos and Nahmi from Children of Zodiarcs. The lack of Black female leads in AAA games is staggering, with no Black-female-led game making it to the Top 20 best-selling games list in the US since 1995. Black men, on the other hand, are represented in games, but often in limited and stereotypical roles, such as Franklin Clinton from Grand Theft Auto V and Jameson Locke from Halo 5: Guardians. The success of games like Madden and NBA 2K, which feature Black characters in sports roles, suggests that Black characters can be successful in certain contexts, but this is often limited to specific archetypes. Forspoken's Black female protagonist is a rare exception, and its underwhelming release highlights the challenges faced by games with diverse leads. However, the game's developers are committed to improving and expanding the game, and Square Enix deserves credit for taking a step in the right direction. Ultimately, the inclusion of Black characters in video games should not be seen as a random or tokenistic gesture, but rather as a fundamental aspect of creating a more diverse and inclusive gaming experience. By giving Black-led games the same opportunities for representation and growth as other games, the industry can work towards a more equitable and representative future.