What does video game representation look like, who is represented, and why?

Please provide details as much as possible, also if there are some impacts due to the COVID-19, please write them down.

 

Video gaming is a male-dominated industry in terms of the target market, player base as well as character representation. Currently, video games with female characters have gained a rise, but there are significant differences in physicality, role, playability, and frequency. Recent research indicates that the male gender is more represented than females. In this regard, 75 % represents the male character and 25% of the female characters. Besides, male characters are more playable than females. In most video games, males are more likely to be a primary character than females.

When a female character is a female, there are higher chances of sharing the primary role with a male character. Males dominate in video characters because they are the majority of the target audience who are likely to choose male characters compared to the female character.

Covid 19 concerns such as social distancing and pandemic anxiety, many people, including the females, have embraced video gaming. This has changed the target customers of the industry, thus increasing the female character representation.

Step-by-step explanation

The difference in video game characterization is heightened among the primary 'doer' characters. In this case, males tend to appear frequently than females and even more as drivers of the action. Females usually appear in secondary roles than primary ones. 

Women's representation in video games is half of the total video game characters. However, they are significantly underrepresented, especially in mainstream games such as FIFA. This portrays that the industry still uses the traditional aspect of women's roles in society regarding sexual representation and gender roles or stereotypes.