The audience for video games is more diverse than many people imagine. While there is some truth in the stereotype of the typical gamer being a young, white male, many people from other backgrounds and demographics also enjoy video games and online gaming. Nevertheless, the gaming industry needs to do more to attract a more diverse audience. In recent years, it has made a more concerted effort to address this issue.
Gaming is for everyone
The image of gamers being primarily able-bodied, heterosexual young white men can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. People who don’t fit this narrow definition may be interested in gaming but feel excluded from the community if they don’t see themselves reflected in promotional material, on forums, and within the actual games. Women, people of color, those with disabilities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+ may all experience a sense of rejection when they show an interest in gaming, even if this rejection isn’t intentional.
Why diversity?
The issue of diversity is one of social inclusion and fairness. Like other sectors, the gaming industry has realized that it has a responsibility to represent all the members of modern society, especially in light of recent movements such as #MeToo and Black Lives Matter. However, there are also purely commercial reasons to seek out a wider and more diverse audience. Minority groups and women represent a largely untapped market for video games, one that the industry is keen to encourage.
Outside the box
There are parallels with how the online gambling sector has changed the image of casino games to bring in a broader demographic to casino websites and online real-money slots. Providers have successfully expanded their audience beyond older male players by using tie-ins with films, literature, and even other video games. By thinking outside the box, and reinventing how casino culture is seen, they can create an online environment that is welcoming and comfortable for all.
More representation
Developers are actively creating more female, black, Asian, and non-heteronormative characters in games, as well as providing better and more positive representation of characters that are disabled and neurodivergent. Giving potential players from all backgrounds characters that they can identify with is an important step. It also sends a positive message to games’ more traditional demographic that these people are valued and welcome.
Telling stories
Representation is only one way to connect with players from diverse backgrounds. In many games, the characters are aliens, animals, or fantasy creatures with no real-world equivalent. Even here, however, narrative video games can tell stories or show situations that reflect the concerns and life experiences of different groups of people.
Of course, it’s equally important to encourage diversity behind the scenes so that more women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ creators can enjoy fulfilling careers within the gaming industry. This, in turn, will lead to more positive representation and a greater awareness of how to welcome new audiences to the wide world of video gaming.
