Harvestella characters stand in front of the game's gender selection screen.

Men’s, women’s and cool hats. All genders are considered.
Screenshot: Square Enix / Kotaku

Having more gender-inclusive pronoun options in a video game, especially RPGs, shouldn’t be a huge ask from gamers. A producer at Square Enix thinks helping players feel welcome by including non-binary pronouns is such a small ask that it’s a no-brainer to be part of his new game.

The game in question is a sweet farming simulator In the productwhich RPG giant Square Enix released yesterday On PC and Switch. similar Stardew Valleysymbols In the product they are charged with tending crops, befriending their neighbors, and coping with disaster in the form of environmental disasters. In the productAs Eurogamer pointed out today, it features a character creator that offers players the option to choose male, female, or non-binary pronouns.

one interview with Eurogamer, producer Daisuke Taka said he thinks it’s “perfectly normal” for games to include a non-binary option for players. While having gender-neutral pronouns feels like a small part of the farming icon as a whole, Taka said it’s important to allow players to choose their gender identity because the game is “for everyone.”

“The protagonist of Harvestella is the player,” Taka said Eurogamer. “We thought it was important for the player to create their own character by choosing different elements including gender, appearance, voice and name. We felt this was important, so players aren’t limited and feel free to express themselves however they want, and as a result feel more connected to their characters.

Read more: Trans Inclusion Is More Than Adding Potential Gender Options The legacy of Hogwarts

Recently, video game characters coming out as gender neutral have been met with outrage in the gaming community’s fan gallery. Look no further than the lack of vocals in it Guilty Gear Strive When the battle came to an angry society Bridget and Will came out as transgender and non-binary, respectively. Toll fees were so damaged that a troglodyte took it upon himself to pose as a customer service representative and Fake emails about Bridget’s gender.

Recently, Square Enix has been making strides in making sure some of its games are more inclusive. One Interview July 2021 Player, Final Fantasy VII Remake co-director Motomu Toriyama said LGBTQ+ inclusion is an important issue for both players and developers.

“In Final Fantasy VII Remakewe rebuilt the original game using the latest technology, but we felt that it shouldn’t stop at the technical side and update the narrative content shown to suit modern sensibilities,” said Toriyama Player. In the same month, the company a non-binary character mascot debutedMine, for that year’s Pride.

However, the JRPG giant doesn’t always get it right. For example, someone may want to remind Final Fantasy XVI producer Naoki Yoshida, walking around old people, contrary to his centrist opinion Final Fantasy would be breaks the “narrative boundaries” of the upcoming game’s medieval European settingBlack and brown people are not a “new game plus” feature on planet Earth.

I’m more interested in the vibe I get from it In the product boy “It’s becoming more common to see gender non-conforming people, so we thought it was important to reflect that in the game and show that all players are welcome to Harvestella,” Taka said.

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