EA Games announced that the upcoming Catalyst legend in 'Apex Legends' will be the series' first confirmed trans character. Catalyst is a male-to-female trans woman that, Ashley Reed, the narrative lead on Apex Legends, stated will be portrayed "genuinely and properly." Reed continued on to state that representation is an important part of Apex Legends. EA and Respawn are proud of the diverse cast of characters in Apex Legends, especially with each character being well-received by the community.
Catalyst is described by Reed as "no nonsense" and a "big sister type." The character is described as a "techno witch" from the planet 'Boreas.' The development team worked closely with 'GLAAD,' an organization that handles LGBTQ representations in the media. Additionally, the phrase "techno witch" was coined by an LGBTQ consultant.
Image Credit: Electronic Arts, Respawn Entertainment
What's Driving This Trend
- Diverse Battle Royale Representation
- The inclusion of diverse characters, especially trans characters, in video games will continue as a trend, paving the way for more representation and inclusivity in the industry.
- Collaboration with LGBTQ Organizations
- Partnering with LGBTQ organizations will become more common as video game companies recognize the importance of accurately portraying diverse characters and storylines.
- Increased Importance of Narrative Leads
- Narrative leads will become increasingly important in the video game industry to ensure that diverse representation is portrayed accurately and respectfully.
Who This Affects Most
- Video Game Industry
- The video game industry will continue to be disrupted as companies recognize the need for diversity and inclusivity in their content.
- LGBTQ Advocacy
- Organizations that advocate for LGBTQ rights and representation, such as GLAAD, will become more visible in the video game industry as they collaborate with game developers and publishers.
- Entertainment Industry
- The trend towards diverse representation in video games is indicative of a larger shift in the entertainment industry as a whole, towards greater inclusivity and representation.
