In a video interview posted on YouTube by KAEmpire, Star Wars: The Old Republic developer Corey Butler says (at ~2.30 into the video) that the game will not feature same sex relationships. The Bioware forums are afire with a fifty-one page discussion of the issue and a community poll.

This thread is for discussion relating to the suggestion of Same Gender Romance Arcs in STAR WARS: The Old Republic.

Because the discussion is meant to be about whether or not you would participate in one and how they would relate to The Old Republic through lore, gameplay mechanics, or story, we ask that the community keep all replies related to The Old Republic and on topic.

Read more about and participate in the same sex relationships thread(s) on the Star Wars: The Old Republic forum.

Thanks to Eliandal for the tip!

Yet another element that's unlike Bioware.  Makes me wonder who's really developing this game.

Seems like a LucasArts decision to me. DA and Mass Effect had the same-sex option with certain characters and it was no big deal. Guess there are no homosexuals in Lucas's universe.As a gay woman let me say...this bites.

  It's kind of weird for Bioware, yes.  But what's most upsetting is the way that this information was 'released'.  There could be myriad reasons why SGRA's aren't included, but none was given.  For the record, this has been a long and ongoing discussion over on the boards (I believe the thread has been capped and restarted (by Bioware) 15 times now.

  Bioware probably could have alleviated much of the firestorm with a simple (ANY?) explanation (while that wouldn't have placated everyone - quite frankly as anyone reading those forums knows, there's 'nutjobs' on both sides of this issue :D) there wasn't any.  From a company that has been so progressive and inclusive in the past, I guess people were just expecting more.

Hasn't this been known for a while. I mean the game has been pushing for a T for Teen rating, so I doubt they'd be able to get away with same sex relationships. I'd be more concerned if the M rated Mass Effect 3 didn't have same sex relationships.

Originally posted by Senadina

Seems like a LucasArts decision to me. DA and Mass Effect had the same-sex option with certain characters and it was no big deal. Guess there are no homosexuals in Lucas's universe.As a gay woman let me say...this bites.

There are, at least in Traviss novels.

Originally posted by Master_M2K

Hasn't this been known for a while. I mean the game has been pushing for a T for Teen rating, so I doubt they'd be able to get away with same sex relationships. I'd be more concerned if the M rated Mass Effect 3 didn't have same sex relationships.

   Sims has same sex relationships and is rated "T" - so I doubt it's that. (Oh, and no, the information from Corey Butler is new)

The Sims isn't something that's really in depth either. It's just taking what's there and using what you're given in other ways to make the same sex relationships. It's a different ballgame when you specifically target a player with a same sex relationship with intention of it. The Sims is a whole lot more ambiguous. 

Originally posted by Senadina

Seems like a LucasArts decision to me. DA and Mass Effect had the same-sex option with certain characters and it was no big deal. Guess there are no homosexuals in Lucas's universe.As a gay woman let me say...this bites.

Then explain C-3PO.

Seriously though, while this decision doen't effect me, I can see why it will annoy some players. I imagine they wieghed which decision would get them the most flack and then went with the path of least resistance.

Romance with NPC's isn't really a primary reason for me to want to play the game but I am pretty bummed about this: I want to be able to roll a female character who will have relationships with female npc's rather than males.

Do not want romancing with other penis owners, even if they are npc's.

V_V

Meh?

There is no precedent for homosexuality in Star Wars as described by official canon.

It's sci-fi, it's another galaxy, it's a long, long time ago...

Their choice to avoid the political fire storm.

Doesn't mean they, Bioware/EA, or the game, or LA is pro or anti anything - it's just not in the game.

Just because you don't do or have something doesn't mean you are against that thing.

I don't eat sea food but that doesn't mean I'm anti-sea food or that I have a problem with people who enjoy sea food.

Originally posted by Master_M2K

Hasn't this been known for a while. I mean the game has been pushing for a T for Teen rating, so I doubt they'd be able to get away with same sex relationships. I'd be more concerned if the M rated Mass Effect 3 didn't have same sex relationships.

You can't seriously be that clueless can you?

What on earth made you think that same sex relationships doesn't have T rating? 

SW:ToR backed by the Vatican?

Does this mean Hoth is flat?

Chastity belts on your opposite-sex companion characters (if you love them, put a ring on it!)?

A crusade to purge the galaxy of infidels (Siths bloodlines)?

The rise of a draconian, dogmatic leader who tortures you if you disagree with him?

Star Wars:The Old Republicans!!!

A country in which hetero relationship is suited for teens but a homo one is not has a really twisted and weird society. If you censor a game because of porn or violence: that makes sense. But if there are two women hugging or a man and a woman: who cares?

Reminds me on the law that homosexual people are not allowed to donate blood. Wtf... I'm happy with my girlfriend, but I got friends with all sorts of preferences and this is just weird.

Did not read the article, but probably got a lot to do with age rating. Some parents do not want their kids exposed to such material (note, not arguing against or for it). Plus, like with Star Trek, Star Wars never really handled same sex couples or issues...so you could say its accurate to the lore in this issue. Bioware can do it easily with mature titles like Dragon Age or even Mass Effect.

Originally posted by Chimps

Originally posted by Master_M2K

Hasn't this been known for a while. I mean the game has been pushing for a T for Teen rating, so I doubt they'd be able to get away with same sex relationships. I'd be more concerned if the M rated Mass Effect 3 didn't have same sex relationships.

You can't seriously be that clueless can you?

What on earth made you think that same sex relationships doesn't have T rating? 

In Europe I think that a game with same sex relationships would get a 12+ (T) Rating, but I believe the ESRB is just a bit conservative on the issue and would rate the game as mature.

Originally posted by Talthanys

Star Wars:The Old Republicans

Lolol. That's a pretty good one actually.

Guess they're going for a younger audience and gay stuff is 18+? lol

In the end, this makes no difference to me whatsoever. I don't plan to have a relationship at all in-game, whether gay or straight. Sex seriously doesn't matter to me when I'm playing a game and trying to get mah epix. I don't understand why this is even an issue.

IMO take out all relationships. Just one less thing for people to bitch about. Make everyone asexual and every now and then just take some bathroom time to relieve the tension.

Sometimes the best love is between you and your hand. Especially since you can't expect better from people who complain about sexuality in a video games.

(mod edit)

So many people up in arms about this. It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me. First of all, it's a game and you can choose what you do and you can choose what you pursue in terms of your own gameplay / story. Secondly, your choice of story / romance doesn't affect anyone else. So if same gender romances were in the game, the only people who would know are those who choose to follow them.

hmmm typical hypocrisy, have it in all your other titles including the most recent DA2 but not in an mmo no sirree god forbid that players see RL in their games and players who are gay actually get to live out their star trek fantasies.