So in case you missed it, there’s been a small uproar over Ubisoft’s second DLC pack for its historical RPG Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. During the extensive campaign, which involves legendary battles atop both soil and across the Aegean Sea that I’m yet to experience, players are free to romantically pursue non-player characters of either sex. Ubisoft hints at this kind of agency in the official game description [x]: “Take control of your destiny with every decision you make and each relationship you build.” But that vow is seemingly discarded in the Legacy of the First Blade: Shadow Heritage DLC, which forces players to enter a heterosexual romance [x].
Numerous fans have taken to social media to express their disappointment with the decision, labelling it as everything from bad game design to queer-baiting. Others, meanwhile, argue Kassandra and Alexios (the two protagonists players are free to select between) are fictional characters anyway, so the DLC storyline twist should not be considered offensive. Kotaku opens Pandora’s box just a little wider, pointing out (via Entertainment Weekly [x])that originally, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Creative Director Jonathan Dumont had told players Ubisoft would “never force players in romantic situations they might not be comfortable with.” Ubisoft recently explained that the twist was part of a “set story” which was, according to Dumont, designed to “explain how your character’s bloodline has a lasting impact on the Assassins” [x].
Dumont went on:
“Alexios/Kassandra realizing their own mortality and the sacrifice Leonidas and Myrrine made before them to keep their legacy alive, felt the desire and duty to preserve their important lineage. Our goal was to let players choose between a utilitarian view of ensuring your bloodline lived on or forming a romantic relationship. ”
Now I strongly suspect, but can’t completely guarantee, that wooing NPCs isn’t only the driving force behind many players’ desire to play Assassin’s Creed. Many of us are drawn to Assassin’s Creed for its lore, its combat, and its quests, so it’s still pretty neat that Ubisoft has incorporated speed dating elements for the romantics amongst us. Why the hell not. But we must concede that despite any sort of historical realism, or the indisputable nature of sexual reproduction, it does seem strange to suddenly limit player agency within a narrative that’s been largely marketed as ‘choice-driven’. This isn’t really about identity politics. In my view, claims that some players are upset just because the scripted relationship is heterosexual seem farfetched; it’s just as likely players who did invest in opposite-sex companions could wind up frustrated at being wheedled into any type of relationship they mightn’t be interested in [x]. As many of the Steam responses correctly point out, this is about player choice—or rather, the lack of it.
Kassandra’s voice actress Melissanthi Mahut is yet to share her opinion on the matter, but she has previously expressed her support for player choice when it comes to romancing NPCs. In an interview with Trusted Reviews [x], she said:
“Personally, I found it completely natural having the option to romance whoever you want. In the gaming world, I think it’s a great step forward. I began to notice on Twitter that one of the first things people picked up on was that you now have the option to a) play as Alexios or Kassandra; and b) you have no limitations as to who you interact with, who you romance, who you don’t romance. I think it’s a wonderful avenue to explore, and I hope things continue in that vein from now on.”
Evidently, exploration of Limitless Ave has come to a temporary halt. So let us ask the inevitable question: at the end of the day, does any of this really matter? To players who relish in swordfighting and mastering effective combat techniques, probably not. But for the rest of the audience, for whom narrative consistency and the freedom of choice is paramount, definitely yes. I can understand why the vexed reactions may seem overblown, but we shouldn’t forget that players care when developers make even the most subtle changes to beloved franchises. I should know; I was part of the crowd who got pissed off that The Sims 4 didn’t launch with swimming pools.—K.K.Atlas