Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Takes a Firm Political Stance, LGBT & Mental Illness Representation

This is brilliant news. Role playing should allow you to create a character that represents anyone from all walks of life. There’s no point in being exclusive.

If the game is good I'll buy it, it's as simple as that. I don't care much about usa politics.

Defining who we are sexually is a concern for self persona reasons. But can't help feeling that there are more serious death related issues out there in the world where our fellow man is suffering against their will... Such as modern slavery where vulnerable boys, girls, men and women are taken against their will and dragged through physical and mental abuse, violence, rape, identity drowning and financial theft. Babies can't eat. Dad's and mum's shot at to feed their kids. Freezing, no good nights sleep. Yeah like my sexual identity is a real concern... Can games please tackle the real hurt that's in the world so our children and future generations don't ever have to experience what I've mentioned above. For the gamers. Peace.

@bbq_boy I can totally relate to the stuff you just mentioned, I don't want to be offensive or whatever, but I think media has made a false big deal out of sexuality. Limiting people on how much they can openly talk about it and the restrictions put on people to define their sexuality are probably adding to the problem.
It's refreshing to see a developer tackling new concerns, especially something that the audience can relate to. Right now, I'd say if we're trying to convey certain messages, climate change is a far more serious of a problem than anything else. IF we want to sent messages, maybe it's better we warn people more about their home planet. I'm sure there's always room for more ideas, perhaps they don't even need to be real-world concerns.
There will be a day when most of these problems won't be relatable. But until that day we should stand as one and unite under the same flag.

I’m truly glad to see these efforts at inclusion. I’m also happy to hear about another developer devoting time to mental illness. Ninja Theory did an outstanding job in their handling of the subject with Hellblade. It’s good news that they aren’t the only studio willing to do so.

I was a fan of the original game. I’m excited for the sequel.

@Homo-Ludens Until the suicide rates for LGBTQ people go down, I’d say it’s a pretty important issue. I saw a study recently that said that over 50% of trans males had attempted suicide. Even little things like this game having representation is a nice touch and hopefully leads to more in the industry.

Hard Pass then. Video games are like the bar and church. Politics have 0 place. Now if they told a nuanced story that was thought provoking thats different. Cramming your agenda and rhetoric down our throat and screaming about it from rooftops is such a shame. Who every said "lets take a vampire rpg and make it about transgenders and hating conservatives" (i know that isn't exactly how it went...or maybe it did) should be fired

I say video games are art and have freedom of expression. Just don't blame gamers who aren't interested or don't feel they can identify themselves. It goes both ways.

Definitely skipping last thing I want in a video game is political nonsense

@Nyne11Tyme Surely it’s the same situation as music, books and movies? All forms of art cannot be free from politics, religion, gender or any other motivating factor. Would you burn copies of 1984, Catch-22 or (ironically) Fahrenheit 451? Video games are art, just look at games like Hellblade, LIMBO or even Red Dead 2. Removing politics from art is removing the heart and soul of some of the most famous pieces of art the world has ever seen such as Guernica by Picasso. And anyway, when did somebody being transgender become ‘political’? What agenda are they pushing? That transgender people actually exist and would possibly want the slightest bit of representation?

Yes it does, it lets me know to completely skip over games that push political viewpoints.

@Nyne11Tyme My thoughts exactly. I have zero interest on whatever issues the developer feels are important. Keep politics from either side of the aisle out of my games.

This is getting silly, I don't need political garbage in my videogames.

Interesting comments here.

Paradox won't even mention the Holocaust in their Hearts of Iron games, it didn't happen as far as these games are concerned, yet here they want to show a moral and political stance?! It's just a tad hypocritical to me.

As for Vampire 2, I think they should have left this stuff unmentioned and allowed gamers themselves to discover these things, I think that would have been more effective as far as their political goals are concerned.

By them mentioning this stuff now, before I've seen proper gameplay, makes me feel that I'm buying a political product first and foremost, that I'm sort of supporting a political movement, that I'm making a statement by buying it. That doesn't sit well with me; I left GOG, the PC games store, because I felt it was more or less just a political front, not a proper games' store.

Right, I assume the comment that used a transphobic slur was removed but this is getting out of hand. Not wanting politics is one thing but not wanting politics that goes against your personal bigotry, that’s something else entirely. This isn’t a website to spread hate, this is a website for people who love video games, no matter their gender or political opinion. And no, hating transgender people isn’t a political opinion.

@nessisonett like i said. It is how its done. Using a game as a vessel to push your agenda is totally bogus. If they would have kept their mouths shut that would have helped. At least their agenda could have felt more natural and teachable.

@nessisonett well i mean if you are a man but think you are a woman or vice versa that probably correlates to some type of mental illness. I mean no hate here with my comment but id have a hars time signing off on someones mental health who feels that way

Some disturbing comments here.

@LiamCroft Are the mods going to step in here?

Umm, you guys post a deliberate & politically charged article and then expect users not to inject personal politics into their comments - that's like pulling the pin on a hand grenade and then hoping it doesn't go off.

Politics by their nature are poison & the very reason why they should be kept well away from video games - or if developers insist on including it then at least do it subtly or present a balanced viewpoint rather than openly baiting the opposition with your partisan politics & agendas, which is just guaranteed to piss most gamers off (which I'm guessing is what these bozos at paradox wanted by posting their clickbait statement in the first place).

@Nyne11Tyme
I don't disagree with you but aren't we all mentally ill in one way or another? If someone I thought was one gender and they tell me are the opposite gender, I'm completely fine with it. Who cares really?
Unless Tasuki removed a lot, I don't see any hate here but more misunderstanding and some people emotionally fragile.
It's a shame to have to walk on eggshells in gaming comments but you can easily get called *name in these witch hunt days.

@JJ2 i just wish there was some tact left. Im totally fine with whatever direction you take in life. Your personal preferences and orientations dont affect me one bit. But im also getting tired of feeling like if i dont high five or pat on the back a trans for being a trans im a bigot. No one is celebrating my hetero lifestyle or my "old fashioned" family unit of man, woman and child. Be who you are. But dont try and force me to be happy for you or celebrate something that i might except but not necessarily agree with

@Tasuki will all due respect- I love this site but i wouldnt post anything political in your articles if you dont expect reactions. Can easily turn into Toxic IGN. This site has always been the best at covering gaming news without a slant. Id just stick to that.

@Homo-Ludens nice words matey. Gaming as it should be! Games = fun! Gaming community left alone to enjoy their games! Stupid politics ruin everything. Sorry guys and gals.

@Nyne11Tyme

I was already to pre-order until I read that they are swallowing the Indentitarian Activist Flavor Aid. No thank you. I don't want religion in my games, especially not such a toxic religion.

@Nyne11Tyme Make sure you never play skyrim then. It demonstrates racism. The entire TES has mentions of slavery and mistreatment of minorities. So does fallout. You know, with the ghouls? Red Dead Redemption 2 is also out of the window for you. Lenny literally explains why being black is difficult because Arthur doesn't understand why he'd have trouble in cities. Games are almost always political. Get your head out of your ass. Besides... The existence of LGBTQ people isn't political. We exist. That's it. We're alive. Is this political to you? Oh, and Wolfenstein is REAAALLY political. Pretty much every war or shooting game is. God you're ignorant

These comments are wack, and I know this is old, but fr. Almost all huge games, art, books, series, ETC have politics in the side or as the main focus. Look at far cry 6 for gods sake?! And thats an amazing game. This is just huge hypocrisy because it’s talking about LGBT subjects. Are you crying about those other games political topics? No? Then yeah, you’re being a hypocritical ***** who is entitled as *****.
I will look more into this game though, it seems really interesting and I may dip my toes in. But not to mention- most vampire related content is tied to LGBT culture you guys know right? Hilarious really.