Part 10/13:
A critical aspect of this debate is the evident divide between gamers — the consumers, players, and enthusiasts — and the increasingly vocal faction of game journalism and development influenced by social politics. The majority of gamers enjoy content that features attractive female characters; their preferences are often dismissed or ridiculed by media outlets and some devs as "problematic" or "regressive".
Meanwhile, the vocal critics continue to push narratives that portray these gamers as ideologically backward, often calling for censorship or socially progressive redesigns of characters. However, the response from the community has been largely one of pushback, calling out the media for misrepresentations, virtue signaling, and attacking player preferences.