ABSTRACT
Issues of race in games can arise at multiple points during a game's creation. Even when these issues are brought to light though, they may not always be addressed or acknowledged. Many people may feel as if discussions about issues of race in games is “politicizing” the medium, failing to acknowledge that the discussed content lies within the game even if they didn't originally see it. This essay discusses issues of racial representation in an early version of Nexon's Riders of Icarus, as well as a preview of Sloclap's Absolver, then delves into content from Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV, even after full release and multiple DLC packages. These stories come alongside the author's experiences as a black game jourunalist attempting to create discussion on those points. Representing the viewpoints of marginalized people in not just the media itself, but the critiques of media provides game creators perspectives that help keep players immersed in the experience of the game instead of the “politics” of the real-world.
