Mass Effect: Andromeda’s upcoming patch will include many improvements to the game, most will be the kind you’d expect like minor game improvements and character enhancements, but that’s not all. It will also include one of the most important and crucial improvements the game has seen to date. Patch 1.08 will include the highly demanded option for male Ryder to romance Jaal! This isn’t only important from an inclusion in gaming standpoint but from an LGBTIQ standpoint as it shows how important our voice is and that it’s being heard by developers.
Patch 1.08 (found here) states:
Scott Ryder can now pursue Jaal as a romance option. There are several important reasons for this change:
Scott Ryder did not have a same-sex squadmate available as a romance option, nor could the achievement for completing three romances be achieved with only male same-sex partners. And as the angara have expressed their fluidity in how they perceive gender, it seemed only natural that Scott could have a relationship with Jaal.
However, we understand that a character’s orientation is an important part of what makes them feel real. The relationships with your crew are some of the most loved and cherished parts of our games, so we wanted to make sure we got it right. We consulted with members of the LGBTQ community, both externally and within our own studios. After carefully considering all feedback, we decided this was an important change to make, and one that made sense for Jaal, Scott, and the angara.
Our writing, editing, and animation teams worked together to ensure this change made sense for Jaal’s character, and the result is a relationship we hope feels as fulfilling and memorable for Scott as it does for Sara.
Whilst it’s good to see BioWare listening to the community, reading these patch notes I cant help but feel these are options that would have made more sense from the beginning given BioWare’s decision to have the Angara’s romance and gender fluidity so open. Either way it’s refreshing to see our voice being heard by developers and these changes being made.
About the Author
Rachel Humphreys
Rachel (Trance) is a long time gamer full time nerd without a plan... When she's not playing on some manner of console or handheld device she can be found enjoying popculture life to its fullest.
