Honest mistake or not, these associations are exactly what racial conflict is about, and instead of reflecting that, Detroit perpetuates age-old stereotypes.
#DETROIT BECOME HUMAN JAPANESE CAST ANDROID#
You have to be aware how it reads to people of certain demographics when, during your shader compilation, players are shown a screen on which every android servant is a person of colour, and the romance model is Caucasian. Make sure you check the pages of Quantic Dream for more details.As a person of colour and a woman, I simply don’t see the necessity of strapping a conscious female character onto a torture device, or likening black people to machines through allegory. “Detroit: Become Human” is set to release on multiple platforms in 2019, although the date hasn’t been announced yet. Even if you can play a tiny role in the life of one person, it’s worth doing,” he said. “That is probably the most moving thing as a game creator… feeling that you have a positive impact on people’s lives…and you are not just doing entertainment. Regarding the reception of the game generally, Cage brought attention to how the moral nature of the game creates a real bond with the player: “I think something which is quite special about the games we make is that…sometimes resonates with the personal life of people.”Ĭage went into detail how they had received many messages from fans describing how their game made the players realize something about their life, and made them change their behavior as a consequence. He described his visits to Japan as “inspiring,” adding that “we always go back to the studio with a lot of energy and positive vibes. Cage directed in particular a message of thanks to the Japanese fans, with almost visible affection in his face, thanking them for all the support. The response in Japan has also been very warm - from fan art to cosplay and appreciative messages. Hence, the idea of creating a different videogame experience, in the prolific genre of AI and technology-related media, but this time choosing to tell the story from the point of view of the androids and not human beings. Where does it take us? How will we react if we create machines that are more intelligent than us?”
In particular, Cage was most fascinated by the idea that in the future, Artificial Intelligence will be more intelligent than humans: “I thought that is a really intriguing story.
The player has choices, which will directly affect the destiny of this near-future Detroit.Ĭage explained how his inspiration came from reading The Singularity is Near (Viking, 2005) by Ray Kurzweil, which explores a world in which technological advancement reaches the pace where the line between technology and biology is blurred. “Detroit: Become Human” in particular is set in 2038 Detroit, where the player impersonates three androids who are working for humans as slaves, then gradually become sentient and start fighting for their freedom. This was true, for example, with “Beyond: Two Souls” starring Ellen Page and William Dafoe, which was released with SIE in 2013. Known for its story-driven video games, Quantic Dream has always sought to create experiences which force the player to think about their actions and their repercussions.
We’ve been coming here for more than 10 years, and the reception to our games has always been absolutely amazing.” He added: “We’ve always had a very special relationship with Japan.