The latest E3 conference has now been and gone with plenty of big announcements, like the first look at Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, or a teaser for the next installment in the Elder Scrolls series.
However, one announcement that caught our eye was during the Sony conference. Showing off the latest trailer for The Last of Us Part II, the main character of the game, Ellie was seen sharing a dance and a kiss with a character named Dina.
Speaking about Ellie’s sexuality to IGN, the game’s co-writer Hayley Gross simply stated: “Ellie is gay.”
She then added: “Ellie was born gay. This is just who she is. And to explore who she is as a teenager and as an adult, it wouldn’t be honoring her character to hide some facet of herself.
“We want to engage with her as a full character. She’s also a great shot, and a great fighter. But she’s also nineteen. Nineteen’s a fun age.”
Related: This video game is set to focus on gender identity and what it is like to be transgender
Although some fans of the game voiced their disapproval, others mentioned how this isn’t the first reference to Ellie’s sexuality, as she was seen kissing another girl, Riley, in The Last of Us: Left Behind.
Speaking to the BBC, gaming journalist Julian Rizzo-Smith said: “I think they were trying to make it clear to people that this is what they’re about.
“I think it was really setting a benchmark for what their future plans are. It’s a perfectly fine reflection of society. If you have a problem that it’s the biggest game of the show, that’s on you.”
You can watch the latest trailer for The Last of Us Part II below. However, the trailer is 11 minutes long, so if you only want to watch the scene between Ellie and Dina, it begins at 1:48 and ends at 3:35.
The Last of Us Part II is set to release later this year.
Latest
