The Last Of Us: Not Making a Big Deal Over Sexuality

Sean Halliday of Pixel Gate writes:

''The Last Of Us has swept up high praise from nearly every corner of the industry; critics love it, players adore it, and it’s proven to be a huge success. However, one part of the game that has gone somewhat unnoticed is how The Last Of Us dips its toes into something of a taboo topic, even in the modern day state of video games. That taboo topic is one of homosexuality. It’s so subtle and underplayed that the chances are most did not even notice it, and that commands respect to Naughty Dog and their writing team.''

[Austin48]

It's amazing how naughty dog kept that hidden in the game I have played through the game 3 times and I never noticed till now well done naughty dog

[M83_]

It's not hidden, it's just not blatantly pointed out to you. There's a lot of subtleties hinted at and suggested throughout the game, they trust you to piece it together yourself instead of holding your hand and pointing it out straight away like so many other games out there.

I think it's a more mature approach and adds much more immersion and intrigue to the overall story.

[LOGICWINS]

I missed it completely. Not that it matters to me. Bill being gay doesn't add anything of value to the story. Nor does it detract anything of value from the story. Thats what ND was trying to show by underplaying it so much. They were trying to show that it DOESN'T MATTER.

Its safe to assume that most people missed it. Maybe that was ND's intention. TLOU is a tense, dark survival horror game. The sexual orientation of characters wouldn't even occur as a point of interest to most gamers unless they were intentionally looking for it.

[itBourne]

I still fail to see how it was missed by people, like yes it was not explicitly said, but it was pretty damn clear.

[kneon]

It seemed pretty obvious to me, I don't get how so many people could have missed it.

[M83_]

@logic, also in times of survival, it really doesn't matter what sexual orientation you are. Thinking such irrelevant thoughts is a luxury you're not afforded in that type of world. In a funny way, it makes everyone a lot more level

[itBourne]

I stand by my saying, if you did not realize this, then you clearly did not have the intelligence to truly appreciate the brilliance that was this game. Sure you may have still enjoyed it, but I am willing to bet most the the game went way over your head.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Yeah, it's Bill and his "partner" that's found dead.

[ziggurcat]

@ austin48:

"It's amazing how naughty dog kept that hidden in the game I have played through the game 3 times and I never noticed"

really? it was pretty obvious to me when i played the game the first time.

[Austin48]

Look people who is telling me it was obivious it was one of those things you had to pay a lot of attention about I was paying more attention about what is going on with Ellie and Joel not so much of bill

[Killzoner99]

I'm so glad Sony owns Naughty Dog. Any other company would have censored this or had it removed from the game. Kudos to Sony for being progressive .

[Totoro17]

Bill was fucking amazing along with the other characters in TLOU. As a gay man myself, it was wonderful to see a bad ass, macho-man gay dude representing in the most awesome way possible. *SPOILER* On a personal level, the death of his "partner" hit a little hard for me. Like it's not hard enough to find a gay partner in this lifetime, but near impossible in an apocalyptic after math...it's more than likely Bill will die alone and it's heart-breaking.

[adorie]

So depressing. :(

I hadn't really thought about Bill that way. Perspective can be important. :)

[Indigon]

I agree. I hope Bill will show up again in DLC or in a later game. He really helped build the game.

[Concertoine]

I noticed this, i thought it was pretty cool.
Then again i live in california, very big gay community here and i guess that's why it never really stuck with me. But looking back it is kind of brilliant how subtle it is.

[Ripsta7th]

No Cali is not a gay community.its mostly anti gay

[dktxx2]

Cali is far from mostly anti-gay. Far, far far. I live in a rural, conservative leaning area in Cali and most people here don't even dislike gay people.

[Totoro17]

Lol it absolutely isn't. Most coastal states are very progressive; much more than their red counterparts and I can assure you that California is a very gay-friendly place. Are you even from California?

[safeword]

It's what make the game great, so many little things that are pushed at you while not making a scene of it, just like it should in real life.

[LoveSpuds]

Cannot see how you would miss this part of the character to be honest, especially if you find all the notes and start the optional discussions off.

I thought it was superbly handled and when you find Bill's 'partner' it was very powerful drama and made Joel's parting conversation with Bill all the more touching.

There is not another game I have ever played that handles story, horror, drama, atmosphere, love and hate in the way that TLOU does. Truly amazing game and incredible story telling.

[KongRudi]

I noticed Bill were gay on my playthrough.
He said he cared alot for his partner, and caring about people only led to you getting hurt, or something like that - and Ellie stole the gay porn from him, so people not noticing it is strange.
His partner (Frank) probably weren't gay tough - it seemed to me from his suicide-note - that he probably only used/stuck with Bill for safety - but weren't really into Bill. :-/

[Nerdmaster]

Hidden? Didn't Ellie find a gay magazine in his bed or something like that?

[breakpad]

...TLOUS has not only this taboo topic (homosexuality) but also that of subliminal pedophilic love (with the pure meaning of the term -middle aged man falls in love with a very young girl in which can see a daughter, a lover, a partner etc etc

[AKS]

It's not the least bit hidden. It just isn't overemphasized for no reason. It's handled intelligently and maturely. It shouldn't be handled as though it is a big deal because it shouldn't be a big deal.

Ironically, it's kind of a big deal that they didn't make a big deal out of it. LOL. It was so refreshing to see a developer not dumb down the storytelling for the lowest common denominator. No caricatures or stereotypes. I hope this is the beginning of a trend.