The Sims 4 is adding an array of inclusive components to the game on its next free base game update on the 14 March including c-section scars, stretch marks and birthmarks.
This update comes not long after the previous one which introduced breast binders, shape wear and an option to give male sims a mastectomy scar to represent transgender identities.
Other people beginning to see themselves represented are the hearing impaired and diabetics through the use of a new hearing aid and a glucose monitor.
The games life-simulation nature is an important factor into why these small efforts into vast representations are important as players want a more realistic gameplay that mirrors the society around them.
Meta issued an official report which included the Director, Claire Weston saying: “People who play games want to see characters that look like them, sound like them, are shaped like them and dress like them.
“Many people don’t find elements that represent them in games and get put into a stereotype, a body or a voice that is not authentic to how they see themselves.
“This is really a push for game developers, and the first thing we can do is to ensure they understand the audiences and further the conversation about representation.”
The game is one of the bestselling life-simulation games that has managed to stay relevant since its origin 23 years ago and predominately holds a young female audience.
The gaming industry is usually marketed towards a more male demographic with the likes of Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, however according Savanta both genders are “equally as likely to play video games” on an every day basis.
Representations of gender has improved from the stereotypical damsel in distress to heroic male narrative with more games other than The Sims taking steps to redesign the wheel.
For example, Grand Theft Auto 6 is supposedly set to have a female protagonist, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Featured image credit: Topher McCulloch via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 license.
