Levelling Up Together: Millennial Women Leading Tech Innovation in Gaming Bridging the Controller Gap
By Amrita Mukherjee
As the glow of the screen bathed my room in a soft, ethereal light during another late-night gaming marathon, a nagging sense of disconnection washed over me. The damsel-in-distress storyline felt completely out of sync with my own experiences as a woman and a gamer.
Despite making up nearly half of all gamers, the narratives in many games still seem to be aimed at a male audience, perpetuating outdated stereotypes instead of reflecting the diversity of the player base. This dissonance, like a jarring plot twist in my favourite RPG, ignited a fire within me. I needed to understand why the gaming world felt so detached from its female audience and explore how the industry could create more inclusive and engaging experiences for all players.
Historical Oversight
Women’s contributions to technology aren’t breaking news. Trailblazers like Ada Lovelace, considered by many the first computer programmer, and Grace Hopper, a key figure in the development of compilers, laid the foundational stones that underpin the video game industry. These women were instrumental in shaping the early technological landscape, a legacy that has enabled the video gaming industry to thrive and evolve. However, their stories are just the beginning of a long narrative that sees women continuously contributing to, yet frequently being overshadowed in, the tech and gaming arenas.
Contemporary Women Leaders
Fast forward to today, and we see incredible women like Jade Raymond and Emily Greer leading the way. Raymond, with her influential work on the massively popular Assassin’s Creed series, and Greer, through her co-founding of the gaming site Kongregate, exemplify how female leadership can lead to ground-breaking successes in the industry.
However, the reality remains: while women constitute almost half the gaming population, they only represent 25-30% of the industry workforce. This gap has a direct impact on the games we play. By not fully leveraging the diverse perspectives and talents of women, the industry misses out on creating games that truly resonate with a broader audience.
Ctrl+Alt+Inclusion
This isn’t just about political correctness; think of the missed potential for richer storylines, innovative game mechanics, and characters that truly reflect the diverse tapestry of players when only one lens shapes the gaming landscape.
This reality sparked a call to action for us at Gamezop. Our data reveals that over 40% of our 1 billion global users in the last four years were women. This insight led my team to dedicate ourselves to developing casual games that are accessible, engaging, and, most importantly, inclusive. We have started to take additional effort to ensure that our games resonate with a broad spectrum of players. With engaging and easy-to-play games, we make sure that we cater to and celebrate the diversity of our player base. Through this endeavour, we are not only contributing to the industry but also participating in a larger movement towards inclusivity in gaming.
Building an Inclusive Future
Bridging the gender gap in gaming isn’t just about filling quotas; it’s about unlocking the full potential of the industry. When diverse voices are heard, unique perspectives are shared, and a broader spectrum of experiences are represented, the entire gaming community benefits.
The change we seek in the gaming industry cannot come solely by encouraging more women to pursue careers in game development. Male allies need to play a crucial role in dismantling harmful stereotypes and advocating for equal opportunities. Gaming companies must actively seek out and nurture diverse talent, fostering inclusive work environments that empower everyone to contribute their best. Consumers can support studios and developers committed to creating diverse and inclusive experiences.
The future of gaming isn’t just about pixels and polygons; it’s about fostering a world where everyone, regardless of gender, feels welcome to create, play, and connect. It’s a future worth not just celebrating on Women’s Day, but actively building every day.
(The author is Amrita Mukherjee, Product Leader, Gamezop, and the views expressed in this article are her own)
