Introduction
In 2017, the International Game Developers Association survey of 963 developers found 61% were white and only 4% identified as Hispanic or Latinx. And a 2009 study that studied 150 American titles showed that only 2.7% of the lead characters were Latinx, relative to their 12.5% representation in society.
Lack of diversity in game-making influences the games we play: Latinx characters in gaming, for example, are almost non-existent. But conversely, games also have the power to challenge harmful stereotypes.
My roots
Growing up in a low-income Hispanic family in the United States, in deep Utah, I had limited opportunities available to me. Video games provided escapism and entertainment, but little in terms of representation.
As I got increasingly involved in the video game industry, I noticed there weren’t many other Latinx people in games. I wondered if the video game industry was going to be a welcoming place for me, but I persisted in pursuing my passion.
Where can games take us
Gaming is beyond entertainment. It’s leading the digital transformation of business and daily life. Video games technology is being used by educators and employers, making it even more important that we get it right.
That’s why we need representation in this industry right now - to make games better, reflect the world as it is, and create social-economic mobility for marginalized communities through one of our biggest industries.
Gaming is shaping the culture of tomorrow, more than any other industry. But in contrast to diversity in film and other media, the games industry in the US and UK is still largely a white male club. The Digital Supply Chain Institute created an entire change management method based on multiplayer games. Politicians are embracing this future. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke with the voters of the future in the online game ‘Among Us’.
Everybody needs to play
Access to the video game industry directly correlates to increased standards of living for Latinx and people of color. Seeing yourself on screen is key to inspiring a diverse generation to join the video game industry. Working in games means greater opportunity for economic upward mobility.
This social-economic mobility is why emerging markets around the world have embraced the video games industry. It creates solid funnels for STEM education, captures the imagination of young people, and generates new, diverse, inclusive video game stories and characters.
Inclusivity is coming
There are signs of positive change. Minority characters, no longer only non-player characters, ‘tokens’ or collateral damage, are taking centre stage. Sony released Spider Man: Miles Morales with a lead Latin character. My team worked on original IP releases that include people of colour, octogenarians, and lead characters with identifiable religious affiliations.
The entertainment industry is taking a cue from film and television, embracing diversity and inclusion. Our society may at last be addressing institutional racism, but the games industry has the power to do more. We are a relatively young industry, led by independent studios and publishers that are poised to make a fast and meaningful impact.
Unlike the movie industry, games are a relatively open career path. There are roles open to people with varied experience, and the industry isn’t difficult to get into. We still need more representation at C-level, however, to create ‘trickle down diversity’ across the industry and the games it produces.
Conclusion
For me, that early interest in games helped to create a viable path to build a career in the industry and a life that was not the stereotypical Latinx story. As my Mom used to tell me, “Don’t become a statistic.” Now my goal is to make sure the door is equally open to others.
