Gaming’s ‘Black Panther moment’ is coming, but it won’t be like the film

Gamergate may have cast a long shadow across the game industry, but thanks to the #metoo and #timesup movements — and a little film called Black Panther — the tide is shifting, according to panelists at today’s GamesBeat Summit in Mill Valley, California. For the first time in gaming history, toxic gamers are losing esports deals and facing consequences for their actions, while developers are realizing that authentically diverse characters can help their games appeal to as many people as possible.

Moderated by Tipatat Chenavasin of The VR Fund, the Summit’s diversity panel included Olde Sküül CEO Rebecca Heineman, Sugar Gamers’ founder Keisha Howard, and GlassLab’s product engagement lead Paula Angela Escuadra. In response to a question by Chenavasin, the panelists agreed that the games industry is nearing a “Black Panther moment” where diverse characters are socially and financially beneficial, though they cautioned that gaming’s moment won’t look just like the film’s.