Study shows female gamers prefer playing as highly sexualized characters

[Fenton]

Can a strong female character who is also highly sexualized inspire positive perceptions from players? Not necessarily, according to a new study in Communication Research. Researchers found that while strength in female video game characters might signal capability, it doesn’t counterbalance the negative impact of sexualization. But in a surprising twist, female participants—despite generally disliking highly sexualized characters—were more likely to choose these characters when given the option to play as one.

The study sheds light on why, even in today’s gaming landscape, character design matters—and how different types of interactions, from watching to playing, shape player perceptions. A character’s sex appeal and strength both play a role in how players perceive them, but these perceptions shift depending on whether players are simply watching or actively engaging with the character.

The researchers conducted two controlled experiments to investigate how different design elements influence perceptions of female video game characters. Each experiment used unique character designs created in the fighting game SOULCALIBUR VI, providing participants with a range of female characters that varied systematically in their sexualization and strength cues.

New research on female video game characters uncovers a surprising twist

While strength cues in female video game characters signal capability, they don’t counteract the negative impact of sexualization. Surprisingly, female players often chose highly sexualized characters to play, despite generally disliking them.

www.psypost.org

 

[Gediminas]

Can a strong female character who is also highly sexualized inspire positive perceptions from players? Not necessarily, according to a new study in Communication Research. Researchers found that while strength in female video game characters might signal capability, it doesn’t counterbalance the negative impact of sexualization. But in a surprising twist, female participants—despite generally disliking highly sexualized characters—were more likely to choose these characters when given the option to play as one.

The study sheds light on why, even in today’s gaming landscape, character design matters—and how different types of interactions, from watching to playing, shape player perceptions. A character’s sex appeal and strength both play a role in how players perceive them, but these perceptions shift depending on whether players are simply watching or actively engaging with the character.

The researchers conducted two controlled experiments to investigate how different design elements influence perceptions of female video game characters. Each experiment used unique character designs created in the fighting game SOULCALIBUR VI, providing participants with a range of female characters that varied systematically in their sexualization and strength cues.

New research on female video game characters uncovers a surprising twist

While strength cues in female video game characters signal capability, they don’t counteract the negative impact of sexualization. Surprisingly, female players often chose highly sexualized characters to play, despite generally disliking them.

www.psypost.org

completely nothing new. we knew it forever.

 

[Ghaleon]

This has been known for a while. The whole thing isn't about what anyone actually wants or likes, it's about pushing an agenda and personal egos of people in the industry.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Men like playing with muscular and able bodied avatars, women like to play with hot curvy avatars.


The whole ugly man-with-boobs trope came from a toxic ideology that seeks to deny the "male gaze" at any cost.

 

[Old Gamer]

It's almost like escapism is about a person fantasizing about an (often idealized) alternate self, rather than a distorted reality where everything else simply conforms to their ego and wants of this reality.

There are differences.

 

[Yobo]

No men and women want to play as troons

 

[TrishaCat]

Swnran Kagura had a significant sized woman fandom is all I will say