Pride 2021: Studio Spotlights

Sometimes, very rarely mind you, I am able to sit down with other people and talk about things that aren’t potato-based but still matter. I was lucky enough to talk to two of my queer colleagues about Pride, identity, and representation in the gaming industry. It was really nice to talk to these lovely people, so in the spirit of sharing, I thought I would let you all in on the experience for our summer of Pride celebration!  

So. Tell me. Who are you?  

Flo: Hello! I’m Flo, some people online also call me Nekofresa, and I’m a 2D/UI artist. Here at Mojang, I work on Minecraft and I do playful pixel art and animations. I have worked in games for quite some time now, and other than that, I love to draw cute and silly stuff, make small games, compose music, wander in nature, and try to keep my baby plants alive.  As for who I am, and part of why we’re talking: I am non-binary, and I accept any pronouns. I like to let my friends and people around me choose the way they want to talk to me/about me, and see what kind of energy they get from me, if that makes sense.  

Oskar: I’m Oskar and I work with third-party content on the Java Realms program, where mapmakers can submit maps to us, and we review and work with them and publish their maps for the Minecraft audience to enjoy. I used to run my own indie game studio so to be able to give an opportunity for our creative community to have their work seen by our audience is very rewarding. In my free time I'm trying to reach the deepest depths of nerdery when it comes to obscure cinema and music. Oh, and occasionally enjoy an RPG or two. 

Do you have any thoughts about identity and representation in games such as Minecraft? 

Flo: I think representation and inclusivity is more than important: it’s necessary. And as game creators, it’s also a duty. Things are getting better, but we are seriously lacking representation in the entertainment industry, and especially in games. Every day you can find stories about people that lacked representation as children, that lacked something or someone that told them it was okay to be who they are. In the opposite way, you can find heartwarming testimonies about children and people finally being represented in their games, in their shows, and how it is a huge, positive impact in their life and self-construction. It is important to be seen, it is important to feel accepted, it is important to feel safe. You sometimes hear creators saying that their games aren’t political, but it simply isn’t true: games are all, in a way, political. If my very existence, and the very existence of my beloved queer community, is something that some people think it’s ok to debate or to deny, then our existence is political. We unfortunately don’t have the luxury to choose not to be political. We are, because society forces us to be. So, in the same way, games are political, because they have the opportunity to represent. They can tell a small kid it’s ok to be gay just by having a character that’s like them. And we, as creators, have that duty to complete.  

Here at Mojang Studios, and in Minecraft, we are striving to create the most inclusive and safe environment possible. It really is an ongoing discussion, it’s not something we think about once a year so we can feel better about ourselves; it’s something written in the Minecraft DNA. We are trying to make it accessible to everyone, we want everyone to feel safe, we want everyone to feel accepted and seen. We want the entirety of Minecraft to be one giant safe space for our community. And when I speak about community, I speak of course of our players, but I also speak about the queer community, my community.  

We are working hard on making Minecraft even more inclusive and safer, and I think we already are in a good position today. For example, it might not be much, but the fact that all entities are genderless, be it a cow, a villager, or a creeper, is a beautiful foundation on which to build new ideas.  

How can people contribute to creating a safe, open workspace? Do you feel like we have achieved this at our studio? 

Oskar: I don't think it's possible to "achieve" a safe, open workspace – it's contingent on the behavior of all employees, present and future. It's a tricky solution cause you can't tell people how to think, and focusing too much on differences among us in terms of gender, sexuality etc. can also create an environment where people don't feel normal. Ultimately I think having a healthy work environment where people feel comfortable to open up is the best bet – if everyone's working overtime and don't feel respected in their job role, worst behaviors tends to come out. 

Flo: Creating a safe, open workspace is a common effort that must be initiated by everybody, otherwise it can’t work. I’d say, start by listening to the concerned people: minorities, what issues they must face every day, what microaggressions do they endure, what violence do they have to face, etc. Accept who they are, then, try to understand their lives and the struggles that come with it. Then, it will be a lot easier to do what needs to be done to ensure that their workspace is safe for them to exist.  

I feel like we achieved this at Mojang; I feel like I can be who I am, wearing what I want, having makeup or my nails done if I want to, and we are always trying to improve everything that could be improved, without second thoughts. It may sound cheesy, or not much to some people, but it honestly feels great to be able to just be who you are at work. It’s a relief. Somedays it can be a huge emotional burden to have to hide who you are; and I wouldn’t be working at Mojang if I had to hide who I am. Safe and inclusive spaces are mandatory for me. 

Do you have any advice you want to share with anyone out there who is figuring out who they are? 

Flo: If you are reading this and still figuring out who you are; or if deep inside you know who you are but are not ready to share it with the people around you, know that first and foremost: it’s ok, and you are valid. Take the time you need. Figuring out who you are and what you like in life can be frightening sometimes, but in the end, it’s something wonderful! Once you understand it, everything makes sense, and that big burden will finally come out of your chest. Identity is also not something set in stone, and it’s ok to define yourself one way, explore, and define yourself another way in the future. There are no mistakes to be made. In addition, know that you are loved, no matter who you are. The queer/LGBTQI+ community is there for you, and together we are strong and beautiful, and we can offer you the safe space you need to yell who you are to the world and be proud of it. You can find a chosen family based on acceptance, love, and glitters inside the community, and find all the help you need to be who you are, and to be happy.  

Oskar: I think it's important to know that your sexuality is your business and no one else's. A coming out experience can be very empowering if you feel like you've had to hide a part of yourself. By the same token, there is no outside factor required to validate your identity, you are the only person with that authority. If you want to shout it out, that's awesome, but if you don't want to that's equally neat. You're you no matter what. 

First of all, I want to thank Flo and Oskar for taking the time to hang out with me. They deserve a standing ovation for that alone. But I also want to thank them for their words of wisdom. We’re all doing our best to navigate through this world, and for a lot of us, that isn’t always easy. Sometimes it takes a long time to figure out who you are, while others have known their entire lives. Whoever you are, your identity is valid, special, and yours and only yours.