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Will You Boycott Final Fantasy 16 Due to The Lack of Diversity & Minority Characters?

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bshark

bshark

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Jun 25, 2018
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So despite notable criticism and backlash online regarding the lack of diversity in the game, and square's continuously questionable response to the topic, it seems a lot of people are still planning to purchase FF16.

This feels...a little odd to me, because it would seem like the best way to send a message to square would be to 'vote with your wallet' per say, and not purchase the game given these concerns?

Therefore, while I know we have a thread that is more broadly discussing this, I was specifically wondering if anyone on ERA was going to take a stand, and not purchase or boycott FF16 due to these issues?
 
IMCaprica

IMCaprica

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Aug 1, 2019
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I am. It's not particularly difficult either, given just how many games there are to play. It won't move the needle, but it'll make me feel better about my purchases.
 
Spehornoob

Spehornoob

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Nov 15, 2017
10,644
I think choosing not to play the game for this reason is perfectly valid, but I think the poll here is only going to succeed in fueling some anger.
 

Yulizh

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Aug 21, 2022
111
I'm not buying it.
To be completely honest, knowing that Starfield and Dragon's Dogma are coming with black characters and black character creation make it really easy to skip FFXVI.
Forspoken is mediocre, but Frey being a good character helps a bit.
I'm good.
 
Duxxy3

Duxxy3

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Oct 27, 2017
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Wasn't planning to purchase. Didn't want to play an action Final Fantasy and I really dislike the characters models. The lack of diversity was very obvious though.
 

Yolteotl

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Dec 20, 2019
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This is a North American issue with a North American scope and reading grid that does not concern the rest of the world.
 

Deleted member 511

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No. If I boycotted games due to lack of diversity in terms of characters that looked like me, I wouldn't have shit to play outside of a few indies at best to put it very bluntly. Rep for black women in gaming is abysmal across the board and I would say it's even worse for south asian woman, south american women, etc, etc.

Everyone has to decide for themselves but for me, I found it more useful to support the games that have diversity and being very outspoken about my thoughts when it is lacking like I've done in XVI threads so far. That and also uplifting the journalists who continue to press these devs in interviews about this so they know it's an issue that can't be easily swept under the rug.

Yolteotl said:
This is a North American issue with a North American scope and reading grid that does not concern the rest of the world.
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No, it's not lol
 
megamanofnumbers

megamanofnumbers

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Not really boycott per se. Mainly because I don't buy shit that go out of their way to condemn representation. But the result will still be the same. I will not buy FF16 due to it doing it's best Sword Art Online impression.
 
krazen

krazen

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Oct 27, 2017
14,280
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Tbh, caring about diversity in games tends to be surface since tbh, most gamers aren't exactly a bastion of progressiveness (and yeah, 'not all gamers' but you know what I am talking about).

Personally Ive kind of dipped out of FF for the last few years outside of the remake so when I heard about the hype about this one I was amped...until those terrible ass comments. Irony is I am used to games that have all white characters (at least the ones that matter) because that's most games so its not even the lack of diversity per say, its the *kanye shrug* response to a fair criticism.

The devs shouldda just stfu
 
Urban Scholar

Urban Scholar

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Oct 30, 2017
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Don't quote my Black ass.

But this is just 1 game that will sell millions.

So if you boycott this game for what was said ouloud:

Will you apply the same arbitrary energy to the next game that'll do the same, but won't say it?

Here's a better question, if you care so much, will you apply that energy to focus/support Black and Brown developers not attached to AAA games?

Even better question.

Will you take this energy to real life and actually support Black people? Because DEI doesn't stop real life anti Blackness.

Also slow clap for you if you think this boycott moves the needle. Bravo to you

PS be fucking for real.
 
Moara

Moara

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Oct 25, 2017
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Nah. It's disappointing, but I'm still excited for the game despite that. Understandable if it's too much of a turn off for other people though
 
TheBlackSwordsman

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Jun 2, 2019
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Just like with that wizard game, unfortunately most people don't know or care about these topics... or they straight up celebrate it as a "win" against "woke people," judging by the comments I keep seeing on Twitter.
 
PhillyPaw

PhillyPaw

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Apr 11, 2021
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Since the very first time I started playing games before the age of 5, I played games based on if they are fun or not. 30 some years later, this has not changed. Coming from a black person. If you want to boycott, go for it. I'm there day 1.
 
RivalGT

RivalGT

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Dec 13, 2017
7,088
Not buying at launch because FF15 was a big disappointment to me, I'll get this down the line at a reduced price, I'm in no rush to play it.
 
Kinsei

Kinsei

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Oct 25, 2017
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On it's own the game wouldn't be that different from a lot of fantasy games out there. Then the interviews came.
 
GeoGonzo

GeoGonzo

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Oct 25, 2017
4,553
Madrid, Spain
I'd be waiting for the PC version so I haven't paid much attention to the game. Hearing reports of sexism and the weird lack of diversity are absolutely diminishing any interest I could have in this game, though.
 

Vector

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Feb 28, 2018
7,363
I was never going to play it in the first place.

Think the only way to get Square to change for the better is for reviewers to call out the lack of diversity.
 
Mike Rambo

Mike Rambo

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Oct 27, 2017
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I mean…no? First of all boycotts have just never worked in the gaming space, but also I just don't see a point. Not saying that I'm happy with the state of affairs regarding the issue, but a boycott doesn't sound like the right answer. For one thing, SE doesn't operate on normal logic and they will not make the connection even if it's spelled out for them, and for another I would like to give the team a chance to improve with honest feedback and hope to see a difference in their next projects. Diversity is obviously very important especially in the times we're living in, but it can't be the make or break for a product, not at least until there are more developers championing the cause
 
ianpm31

ianpm31

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Oct 27, 2017
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Nope I'll be there day 1. Square could definitely improve things but there are so many games with lack of diversity so not sure why this is THE game that draws the line.
 
DSN2K

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Oct 25, 2017
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I dont have a PS5 so I cant even consider it in the first place, but no im not planning to play the game when it eventually hits steam.
 
Menchin

Menchin

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Apr 1, 2019
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Wasn't planning on getting it at or near launch, and this certainly doesn't help its chances of getting got at all
 
Kozy

Kozy

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Dec 4, 2017
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I think its important for the industry as a whole to be diverse, and it should be just as easy for the industry to make a game with all dark skined characters as it is to make a game with all light skinned characters.

But I don't agree that each individual game has to be diverse.
 
BaconHat

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Oct 25, 2017
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I really don't see this poll having any other effect than pissing some ppl off, and feeling like bait for others.
 
J_ToSaveTheDay

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Oct 25, 2017
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I don't like the lack of diversity and think the reasoning given is very poor but no, I'm not going to boycott the game for it.
 
mojo

mojo

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Oct 25, 2017
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My stance on this has changed and I think any attempt at boycotts for something like this is stupid. Grew up playing countless games without poc what's one more?
 
SCUMMbag

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Oct 25, 2017
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I'm not buying it day one because it's giving me some yikes vibes based off what the developer said and some rumoured story spoilers.

I'll certainly wait and see how the discourse around the game is once it releases. I've not written it off just yet.
 
platocplx

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PhillyPaw said:
Since the very first time I started playing games before the age of 5, I played games based on if they are fun or not. 30 some years later, this has not changed. Coming from a black person. If you want to boycott, go for it. I'm there day 1.
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Yep same feeling. There is a lot of work to do in the fantasy genre, making them aware of the omissions will help for the next ones hopefully. But I'm playing it it's not some massive deal to me vs the way bigger fish to fry in society, this is just more a symptom of how society looks at diversity vs a direct cause of it and I'd rather focus my energy on fixing issues of people who are actively harming us than these more passive and ignorant things when it comes to creating fantasy media. As a black person sadly it's about harm reduction and this doesn't cause active harm so I am just nonplused about it.
 
Neoxon

Neoxon

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Oct 25, 2017
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The diversity comments legitimately did put me off from buying the game, & certain spoilers only exacerbated that.
 
Eidan

Eidan

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Oct 30, 2017
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No. I've been consuming media with no diversity my entire life. XVI is not special in this regard.
 
crimilde

crimilde

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Oct 26, 2017
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No, I want to judge the game for myself after playing it, once it's actually out and we can experience the whole story.

I'm aware the comments from the team weren't great to say the least, but I prefer making my own mind about all aspects, including characters, narrative and gameplay.

Same for books and movies/TV shows.
 
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Soliloquy of a Dogge

Soliloquy of a Dogge

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Oct 27, 2017
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Yolteotl said:
This is a North American issue with a North American scope and reading grid that does not concern the rest of the world.
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This post doesn't deserve a response or any effort but all I'll say is that these type of ignorant and sheltered mindsets is precisely the issue.

Representing a diverse world and not trying to justify your lack of diversity with some harebrained bullshit is a "North American" issue? Some of ya'll don't even try and hide it thankfully.
 
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