Video game developer and publisher Bandai Namco is publicly speaking out against the anti-Asian racism spiking across the United States. The Japan-based company released an official statement about its stance about the ongoing issue this morning.
The US has seen a rise in hateful rhetoric and behavior towards Asian-Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The internet has circulated many stories over the past year about the mistreatment of Asian US citizens, with many believing the misdirected anger stems from the coronavirus originating in Wuhan, China. The racism, which has reportedly seen a recent surge, has caused many to publicly raise their voice in opposition, including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu.
Detailed in a post on Twitter, the Bandai Namco US handle speaks on how the Anti-Asian hate has "truly hit home" for its employees. The tweet asserts that the company is committed to promoting the values of inclusion, diversity, and fairness while condemning "all acts of violence, bullying, discrimination, and xenophobia."
The post goes on to state it stands with the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community, and encourages others to speak out against the racism-fueled aggression and hate crimes. Bandai Namco also includes links to several resources to those looking to put a stop to the hatred in the form of educational articles, petitions, coping resources, and more.
Bandai Namco isn't the only gaming-centric company to publicly speak out against the harassment; Twitch is taking a stand against Anti-Asian speech and hate crimes as well. The streaming giant made a public statement of its own last month, teaming with Act to Change, Asian Mental Health Collective, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Stop AAPI Hate, and other organizations in a collaborative effort to end hateful content on its platform. The move comes in response to now-former Seattle Mariners CEO Kevin Mather, who spewed xenophobic, hateful comments towards Asians and other professional baseball players of color.
While the rash of hate is certainly unacceptable, Asians have been making progressive strides in the world of Hollywood. In addition to Nomadland director Chloe Zhao being the first Asian woman to be Golden Globe-nominated for Best Director, Marvel's Kevin Feige has also announced the possibility of a southeast Asian superhero in the MCU. With films like the MCU's Shang-Chi and the recently released Disney film Raya and The Last Dragon, it appears the calls for more inclusion and diversity in the live-action entertainment sphere are finally being heard.
Video games are making an effort to include Asian characters as well. While it won't be confirmed until at least the Square Enix Presents digital showcase on March 18, Life is Strange 3 is rumored to feature an Asian-American woman with mind-reading powers as the main protagonist. With just how intertwined Asia is with the gaming industry, it's certainly a good sign to see more diverse representation that Bandai Namco is advocating for is slowly but surely becoming commonplace.
Source: Kotaku