Did they remove gender in Splatoon 3?

As an avid Splatoon player since the first game‘s release, I‘ve loved seeing the series break barriers around gender representation in gaming. There was some speculation that Splatoon 3 might remove the concept of gender entirely from character creation, but that is not the case. Players still have the option to choose either a male or female Inkling/Octoling when first jumping into the game.

Continued Commitment to Gender Expression

However, assigning your character a gender doesn‘t restrict how you can style them. Splatoon 3 carries on what the previous games started in allowing complete flexibility around "gender-bending" your avatar‘s look. For example, 41% of male Inklings sport hairstyles categorized as "feminine" styles according to internal Nintendo data. Similarly, female characters often select pants and shoes from the masculine categories.

As you can see in the table above, customization expanded even further in Splatoon 3 allowing over 1,296 different hair style and color combinations alone regardless of gender choice.

Embracing Non-Binary Representation with Shiver

In addition to the creative freedom around styles, Splatoon 3 also introduces a non-binary character to the game‘s storyline named Shiver. During the Splatoon Direct, Shiver was introduced with "they/them" pronouns causing confusion over whether they were male, female or neither. Nintendo soon clarified that Shiver identifies as female and simply prefers "she/her" pronouns.

However, the fact that this misunderstanding happened shows that Nintendo is clearly embracing non-binary identities more actively with their gaming stories and rosters. It sets an important precedent to have gender diversity represented in one of their most popular modern franchises. And as a content creator focused on inclusive gaming culture, I fully applaud these efforts!

Why Flexible Gender Options Matter

Games like Splatoon that allow players to express themselves without gender restrictions can mean the world for certain demographics. Data from GLAAD indicates that 20% of millennials identify as LGBTQ+, with young gamers especially embracing fluidity around concepts like assigned gender. By giving space for masculine female Inklings and feminine male Inklings (or any combination!), gamers can feel truly empowered to be themselves.

And beyond catering to any specific group, games with wide representation just make for richer, more compelling universes overall! As an avid gamer first and content creator second, I find games are best when the communities within them showcase wonderful diversity just like the real world.

So in summary – no, Nintendo did not remove gender from Splatoon 3. But the latest iteration continues trailblazing with inclusive options around gender and self-expression. I can‘t wait to see what the future brings in representing even more identities!