Gaming is quite popular. Forbes Business Magazine claims that the industry makes more money worldwide than the music and film industries put together. That’s a lot of individuals interested in gaming characters and tales. What is gender euphoria in gaming, and how does gender fluidity tie into this?
In a recent research, Phoebe Toups Dugas, an associate professor at Monash who specializes in human-centered computing at the Exertion Games Lab in the Faculty of Information Technology, examines the concept of ecstasy experienced by transgender gamers.
According to her, euphoria in the context of “digital play” refers to the happiness, ease, and well-being experienced when one’s gender identity is perceived, experienced, or represented in a game in a way that is consistent with one’s identity.
“Gender euphoria is a moment ‘in-game’ where your identity and your experience of your identity are truly aligned, and they are described as bright, intense, wonderful moments.” I believe that gender euphoria is truly relevant to anybody.
According to her, cisgender persons frequently have these types of experiences but might not be aware of them.
“When they do occur, it’s uncommon, brief, and incredible for transgender individuals, especially those who haven’t had the chance to experience it. We are examining how those experiences may be had through gaming.
This month, the study was presented at the leading conference in the area, the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) CHI conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Japan.
Associate Professor Toups Dugas and three other game design specialists from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts and Monash (PhD student Michelle Cormier) undertook the analysis of 25 games. Their personal experiences as trans femme individuals provided the data and insights for the study.
In game design, it’s important to think about inclusion and how all individuals may be portrayed, not only characters that are straight and go on missions that are colored by gender stereotypes.
The study goes on to characterize gaming euphoria as “satisfaction and relief caused by self-actualization and gender congruence.” This is significant because gaming’s emphasis on bodies, human experiences, and social interactions, as well as its intensity, can result in gender empowerment.
Twenty-five games were examined by the researchers; some were independent and little, while others were more popular.
According to the report, “the transgender community has long utilized gender euphoria to highlight the unique joys that can come from gendered experience by trans (and cis-) people, but it has only recently entered the academic vernacular.”
The study (as well as earlier studies by the researchers) explains gender dysphoria, a condition in which the player experiences anguish in the game rather than admiration and respect.
According to the article, “the dominant discourse surrounding trans people is damage-centered,” with research subjects addressing harmful themes or material. This makes transgender people feel vulnerable and links us to suffering, which is why inclusive design is necessary.
“The lack of knowledge about transgender gender euphoria in human-computer interaction (HCI) may reinforce the focus on negative experiences and may overlook promoting design for positive gender experiences for trans resilience.”
The mechanisms—the options that game developers give players—are also discussed in the study, along with the psychological and emotional connections that may be discovered in games (e.g., building a pit to leap over or a trans character to engage with).
The authors expect that by categorizing mechanisms around recognized gender euphoria for trans-femme individuals, game designers and developers would be able to identify new or updated “outcome dynamics”—the what, why, and how of in-game character arcs.
Following data analysis, the four main results of gaming euphoric experiences are:
Having ideas or talking to yourself that are gender affirming good feelings and a higher standard of living Not all of these are conscious at first; some are unconscious. It is as easy as enjoying a circumstance or a section of a game’s story.
According to Associate Professor Toups Dugas, a player may imagine positive ideas, such as, “That was cool! Why did that seem cool?
Associate Professor Toups Dugas recalls being ecstatic during her own gaming career after learning that Samus Aran, the player-controlled protagonist in the Nintendo game Metroid, was a woman (under the elaborate space armor).
It turns out that if you finish the game quickly enough, she will remove her helmet and reveal her hair, revealing that you are a space bounty hunter wearing this mechanical costume. This was startling. She’s a woman, this fierce figure who shoots up space aliens? What?
In order to comprehend how particular design aspects and narratives might cause trans players to experience gender ecstasy, the researchers examined 25 games, including particular case studies from four well-known games: Cyberpunk 2077, Celeste, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and One Night, Hot Springs.
Haru, a Japanese trans woman who still has a male ID, receives an invitation to a hot spring from her cisgender female friend Manami and Manami’s friend Erika in the independent game One Night, Hot Springs. The article claims that although the game has “trans comfort” and “heart-warming moments,” Haru feels uneasy due to the variety of problems she may face.
A character named Madeline must ascend Celeste Mountain in the far more popular game Celeste. Although it isn’t stated explicitly, Madeline’s gender identity is implied by a transgender pride flag, a bottle of medication (hormone replacement treatment), and a picture of Madeline with shorter hair.
The fact that Madeline is only a gaming character is intriguing in this case. Associate Professor Toups Dugas explains, “It’s just there and isn’t intended to be commented upon.”
She claims that creating for gender euphoria not only benefits trans gamers but also contributes to the creation of more inclusive and vibrant environments for everybody.
Another example is Cyberpunk 2077’s Claire Russell, a transgender non-player character (NPC) who gradually develops a deep bond with the player during a series of intense street races. Claire is shown in the game as a self-assured and competent heroine who is an authority in her own domains and is able to coach and collaborate with the player on an equal footing.
According to the study, this allows gamers to sense “parasocial” gender ecstasy, which is the sensation of becoming close to a fictitious character that is embraced and supported in a society that supports them. By doing this, the player can absorb that ideal self-image and boost their own self-esteem, which is frequently affected by institutional and societal stigmatization.
Later on in the game, it is revealed that she is transgender. Even though she has a flag on her truck, you could decide not to go talk to her as a side task. She will trust you and communicate with you more as you get to know her and assist her. And in the end, she will tell you that this is her background and have a private discussion with you about it.
According to Michelle Cormier, Cyberpunk 2077 has a lot of “human-interest-style side quests.” They are several short tales of everyday residents of NightCity, including their struggles, setbacks, and victories. Being a street racer and a trans woman who succeeds in this future version, Claire’s inclusion in those stories is significant. Transgender persons have a place in the future, where they can achieve the same success and happiness as cisgendered people.
Disclaimer:
This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It discusses gender identity in gaming based on academic research and does not promote or criticize any identity or lifestyle. The content is aligned with Google AdSense Program Policies, avoiding hate speech, sensitive events, or misleading claims. We respect all identities and promote inclusive, thoughtful conversation.