I think what I and some other people have a hard time understanding is how much of a deal-breaker it is to not have any female playable characters, or whatever the issue is now (or maybe a culmination of issues.)

There are other games that are way more saturated with testosterone, and beer, and are actually misogynistic on purpose (Grand Theft Auto is a great example!) that I would think deserve a bigger outcry than Final Fantasy XV. I'd hate to think people would just absolutely tighten up their jackets and cringe away from one entry of a franchise that we've been waiting on for what feels like 82 years. The problem is obviously bigger than this game but it seems like it's been receiving the side-eye and especially more so after the Cidney thing. Which, the outcry was understandable then, and still is now. The Cidney thing. And I appreciate those with with the unpopular opinions making a fuss about it, but the whole Stella thing and all-boys party tantrums, in a game that explains why there's an all-boys party, just bewilders me.

And also, me being a black man I could complain about the lack of non-stereotypical black characters in FF. Other than Viera from Ivalice, I think we have Sazh and Barrett who are essentially the joke characters of their respective casts lmao. I could turn away from FFXV because of that but I think I would be missing out on too much of the good this game has to offer.