The Grand Theft Auto games are a series with a controversial history. Each release was met with mainstream media and angry parents criticizing the game left and right for its brash approach to, and in some cases glorification of, sex, violence, and drug use. An uninformed public behind the times doesn’t seem to realize that the games are intended for an adult audience, and suddenly you have Fox News blaming the game and developers when an eight year old shoots his grandmother. I’m a huge fan of the series and will be the first to defend it when people want to drag it through the dirt, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to some blatant issues when it comes to the way Rockstar approaches the series. Sure, the games largely deal with a seedy criminal element, but is sexism a necessary part of that formula? With Grand Theft Auto VI, is it time to see fleshed out female characters – or even a female protagonist? I sure think so.
Everyone has their favorite Grand Theft Auto protagonist, whether it’s Claude from GTA 3, Niko from 4, or the unique trio of protagonists in Grand Theft Auto V, there’s a decent amount of variation between characters. What all recent games have in common, however, is gender. All protagonists after the original game (which we’ll discuss below), and even all of the characters of substance (with few exceptions) are male. The criminal element is central to Grand Theft Auto, but there are female criminals in real life, so why not in the game? Rockstar has even shown that they can pull off a great and engaging story with more than one main character, so why can’t one of them be a woman in Grand Theft Auto VI? Rockstar’s games in general have almost exclusively featured male protagonists, with popular titles Bully and Red Dead Redemption also starring a male character, and it’s time for that to change with Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar has proven that they have the chops to create engaging stories, but they’re not very diverse at all. The majority of female characters are portrayed as dumb, annoying, trashy, or “the bitch”. The argument that the genre in general lends itself towards male characters is flawed, too, as fellow criminal-centric series Saint’s Row allows for female character creation.
I’m certain fans of the series will be quick to point out the original Grand Theft Auto where players could choose between an equal amount of female characters, but story in Grand Theft Auto was non-existent and selection was just aesthetics. Calling them characters is even rather generous. If you’re going to stick to this point, the question remains: Why did Rockstar move backwards? Grand Theft Auto VI is the perfect opportunity for Rockstar to catch up with more progressive developers and show they have the ability to create more complex female characters that can actually past the Bechdel Test.
I’m not alone in the argument that the Grand Theft Auto series is misogynistic. Reviews were extremely critical of the title’s treatment of women. The New York Times spoke of the game’s “lack of interest in women as something other than lustful airheads”. Gamespot’s reviewer pointed out “exaggerations of misogynistic undercurrents in our own society, but not satirical ones. With nothing in the narrative to underscore how insane and wrong this is, all the game does is reinforce and celebrate sexism.” The game doesn’t just fail to include “great” female characters – it’s exclusively dominated by awful ones. Grand Theft Auto VI deserves a story that celebrates women (even if they’re criminals) rather than lazily using them as comic relief or a point of contention.
Critics of the diversity argument may point to Grand Theft Auto V’s online mode as a medium for female players to create their own criminal, but despite the huge community in Grand Theft Auto Online, the games are still largely single player experiences. There’s very little story behind online characters, and while players are free to make their own, a lot of people play games to be told a story rather than create one.
Video games are no longer a medium dominated by men. While men may be the majority still, an almost equal amount of women consider themselves gamers. We’ve seen other studios provide diverse characters that provide an inclusive experience. Bioware is well-known for their progressive approach to characters, albeit with mixed results, and their games have drawn in a wide audience from many different backgrounds. It’s long overdue for Rockstar to ditch tired cliches. Give us something fresh in Grand Theft Auto VI.
Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.
According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.
He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.
Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.
Gaming
The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship
Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.
The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.
Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024
There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.
It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.
The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.
Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?
In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.
Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.
Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.
Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.
In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.
Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.
It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.
However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.
- Gadgets9 years ago
Why the Nexus 7 is still a good tablet in 2015
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 5: is there room for improvement?
- Editorials9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – How bad updates prevent people from enjoying their phones
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 5 2015 and Android M born to be together
- Gaming9 years ago
New Teaser For Five Nights At Freddy’s 4
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Google not releasing Android M to Nexus 7
- Gadgets9 years ago
Moto G Android 5.0.2 Lollipop still has a memory leak bug
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 7 2015: Huawei and Google changing the game