It would seem that gaming is a place where diversity would thrive, with players exploring many different worlds as characters that could look like anything. But there’s still a disparity between the people playing the games and the representation they’re seeing on screen. GLAAD’s 2024 Gaming report on LGBTQ+ players found 17% of active gamers identify as LGBTQ+, but less than 2% of console games currently available feature LGBTQ+ characters or storylines. YPulse’s own Gaming report data shows nearly all LGBTQ+ 13-39-year-olds play video games in some capacity and 78% of LGBTQ+ who play video games agree: “I wish video games had more diverse characters.” As avid gamers, this cohort is also spending plenty of money on the hobby. When we ask young people how much they would estimate they’ve spent on video-game related expenses in the last year, LGBTQ+ players estimate an average of $198, compared to $157 for non-LGBTQ+ players. As GLAAD highlights in its report, this huge gap calls for a pressing need for change within...
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