Nier Automata Director Weighs in on Females in a WWII Game
The reveal of a woman on the cover of Battlefield V stirred something of a backlash against game developer DICE. Coupled with the inclusion of a female in the trailer, many fans expressed concerns that the game would not entail an authentic return to World War II. While some voiced logical reservations, others simply snapped back at the decision to include women in a game about a world war. Meanwhile, in Japan…
DICE’s producer already stated that Battlefield V will prioritize the player experience over true historical accuracy. As such, it looks like the cover and playable female characters are here to stay. While it seems everyone has their two cents to lay on the subject, —that some want to paint as a controversy—the most amusing response came from NieR Automata Director Yoko Taro.
On Twitter, Yoko Taro commented on the reception to Battlefield V’s reveal. Translated by DualShockers, he said the following: “Meanwhile, in Japan battleships are made into beautiful girls, warlords are made into pretty boys loving boys, schoolgirls ride tanks, and anything you want…”
その頃、日本では戦艦を美少女にしたり、武将を美青年男色家にしたり、女子高生が戦車に乗ったりとやりたい放題なのであった……＞『Battlefield V』公式発表トレイラーをめぐる不評にEAがコメント。「歴史修正主義的な意図はない」 | AUTOMATON https://t.co/jDDfOuzKMY
— yokotaro (@yokotaro) May 26, 2018
True enough, Japanese media covers historical themes but frequently infuses them with outlandish plots and characters (or fan service). But whether there’s realism or not, Japan never seems to second-guess the inclusion of female characters. Granted, the difference many gamers might perceive is the fact that DICE typically resorts to some hard-hitting realism in their games. That said, much of what we see with DICE—and what we should expect from Battlefield V—is fictional.
Moving on to chipper news, it’s been confirmed that Battlefield V will have neither Premium Pass nor loot boxes. There will be cosmetics for character customization, but it seems those will be single purchases. The game will launch on October 19 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check back for more related news leading up to E3 2018 and beyond.