Tomonobu Itagaki has chimed in once again on Dead or Alive 5. However, today there is a serious change in his tone this time.
Posting two pictures of playable character Lisa Hamilton/Mariposa, Itagaki is questioning why her skin tone has turned white. He unequivocally calls this a ‘discrimination by color.’
Some fans tried to defend Tecmo and Team Ninja, pointing out that the game received a new lighting engine and this has made Lisa, as well as Zack, appear brighter. However, Itagaki is having none of it.
He has gone on record that the change is definitely not due to the lighting engine, so this was a deliberate choice to whitewash the character. He cites his experience as a game developer to bolster his argument.
This change hasn’t gone completely unnoticed before, as this fan has pointed it out on their blog three years ago. With the series creator putting weight on this claim, however, it is something that Team Ninja and Tecmo Koei has to take seriously.
Lisa is a relatively new character in the series, but one with a layered backstory, and connections to many other characters. She is mainly a scientist who works with villain Victor Donovan, both under DOATEC as well as MIST. However, she may in fact be a double agent, as she has helped undo Donovan’s plans. Lisa also has separate connections with Tina Armstrong (an old high school friend) and Kokoro.
Lisa helped increase the diversity of a game most well known for having mostly East Asian or Western characters. This change in Lisa’s appearance, regardless if it’s a technical or deliberate change, takes away from that intention.
What do you think is the best way Tecmo Koei and Team Ninja should handle this situation? Should Dead or Alive introduce even more POC? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
