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

The recent release of Forspoken, an AAA game featuring a Black female protagonist, marks a significant milestone in the representation of Black women in the gaming industry. Despite the enthusiastic reception of the game's protagonist, Alfre 'Frey' Holland, the industry still has a long way to go in terms of representation and diversity. The lack of Black female leads in major video games is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. While there have been some notable examples of Black female characters in games, such as Angrboda from God of War: Ragnarok and Sojourn from Overwatch 2, these characters are often relegated to supporting roles or playable characters in team-based games. The player is rarely given the opportunity to experience the game from the perspective of a Black female protagonist. The shooting game genre, in particular, is dominated by male protagonists, with few examples of Black women in leading roles. However, there are some notable exceptions, such as Kait Diaz from Gears of War 5 and Dani Rojas from Far Cry 6. The issue of underrepresentation is not limited to the shooting genre, but is a pervasive problem across many genres. Black female leads are not entirely absent from video games, with examples such as D'Arci Stern from Urban Chaos and Nahmi from Children of Zodiarcs. However, these characters are often found in indie titles or expansions, rather than major AAA blockbusters. The NPD Group's list of top-selling games in the US has never featured a Black-female-led game, highlighting the significant gap in representation. The few examples of Black characters in games are often limited to specific archetypes, such as athletes or violent characters. The success of games like Madden and NBA 2K, which feature Black characters, suggests that games with diverse characters can be successful, but these characters are often relegated to specific roles. Forspoken's release, despite its underwhelming state, is a notable exception to this trend. The game's commitment to representation and diversity is a step in the right direction, and its developers' dedication to improving the game's quality and providing more opportunities for representation is commendable. Square Enix's decision to feature a Black woman as the lead character in Forspoken is a significant move, and the company deserves credit for its efforts to increase diversity in the gaming industry. The inclusion of Black characters in video games should not be seen as a random component, but rather as an essential part of creating a more diverse and inclusive gaming experience.