Miis Now Embrace LGBTQ+ Identities
Since its debut in 2009, Nintendo’s Tomodachi Life has been a quirky life simulation where players can observe their Miis navigating a whimsical world filled with bizarre relationships. However, there’s been one notable limitation: until now, Miis were not allowed to express same-sex relationships.
During Thursday’s Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Direct, Nintendo announced that players will finally have the option to create queer Miis through an inclusive settings menu integrated into the Mii creation process. This allows players to set each Mii’s “dating preferences,” enabling them to date and marry individuals of multiple genders—or none at all.
Perhaps even more groundbreaking is the introduction of the term “nonbinary” as a third gender option, which is a significant shift for the developer. In recent titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo has sidestepped the issue by offering two ambiguous “styles” that still align with traditional gender norms. The inclusion of a specific nonbinary option marks a substantial advancement for the company.
In the 2014 version of Tomodachi Life, Miis were restricted to heterosexual relationships and were limited to male or female identities, prompting queer players to turn to mods for alternatives. A popular workaround involved setting one Mii as the opposite gender and ignoring the game’s gendered pronouns and comments about clothing preferences.
Nintendo faced considerable backlash for excluding same-sex marriage in Tomodachi Life, the first title in the series released outside Japan. In response to fan petitions advocating for the inclusion of gay marriage, Nintendo initially reacted quite sternly. There were even rumors of a bug that allowed same-sex marriage, alongside a peculiar translation of Japanese patch notes that led fans to believe the feature had been intentionally removed.
However, shortly after their initial statement, Nintendo softened their stance, promising, “If we create a next installment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a gameplay experience from the ground up that is more inclusive and better represents all players.”
Fans have been eagerly awaiting the addition of gay marriage since then, so the announcement wasn’t entirely unexpected. Still, after nearly 12 years of waiting, it’s a huge relief to finally receive confirmation today—especially with the unexpected bonus of a nonbinary option. The excitement was palpable during the livestream, with comments overflowing with rainbow flag emojis, and a quick look at the game’s subreddit shows that the community is equally thrilled.
I can’t wait to create a more diverse island and am genuinely excited to see my Miis dive into even more chaotic relationships when Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches on April 16.
