In a sensitive year like 2024, Stellar Blade has sparked controversy, as even before getting to play it, gamers have pointed out that Shift Up objectifies its main character. The portrayal of women in games has been a controversial topic of discussion for quite some time. However, it becomes confusing when an upcoming installment in Xbox’s Fable franchise has been criticized for making its female lead unattractive, and it’s unclear what developers have to do to satisfy every gamer.
Stellar Blade and Fable Are Facing the Opposite Problems
It only took a gameplay showcase and a demo for Stellar Blade to receive negative attention since most gamers seem to be talking about how the lead character looks rather than what her abilities would be. Shift Up’s PS5 exclusive was set to somewhat follow the footsteps of Bayonetta, but not much discussion is taking place about its gameplay or another immersive world that Sony could be bringing.
Instead, even before its release, the game is being bashed because the developers put too much detail on “jiggle physics” while making her outfit revealing.
On the opposite end lies Playground’s Fable, as Microsoft revealed it at 2023’s Xbox Showcase, probably thinking that gamers would be excited for the series’ return after more than a decade. Unfortunately, the footage was met with criticism for different reasons: the female protagonist wasn’t “attractive.”
This led to gamers calling it “Woke Sweet Baby Inc Trash,” as it was suggested that the developers were trying too hard to be inclusive, which raises the question: what’s the middle ground when it comes to women being represented in games?
What Should Developers Do to Satisfy Everyone?
Stellar Blade and Fable aren’t the first games to feature female protagonists, and there’s plenty to learn from titles that’ve come before, like the rebooted Tomb Raider series. Lara Croft was one of the OG women in gaming who was sexualized from the beginning, but with the reboot, she was turned into a relatable person without losing her conventionally attractive appearance. Of course, beauty is subjective, so it’s impossible to satisfy every gamer when it comes to character design.
Developers should put the quality of their games on top priority, and if the protagonist looking a certain way is necessary for the story being told, then they should stick by it. Gamers need to focus on things that matter, like the gameplay and visuals of a game, and let artists create the art they want, at least until it’s released and enough players have had a hands-on experience.
Only after witnessing the game and going through all of its aspects does it make sense for anyone to criticize it; who knows, maybe the character’s appearance becomes useful in making the title impactful.
Do you think the criticism that Stellar Blade and Fable received was justified? Let us know in the comments!
