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description: In Nintendo’s new social simulation game Tomodachi Life, you can do just about anything... but if you’re gay, you can’t get married.
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# Nintendo Says No to Gay Weddings in Upcoming Game

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9XPYuu3M.m3u8" -->
## Video: Nintendo Says No to Gay Weddings in Upcoming Game

[Watch (HLS stream): Nintendo Says No to Gay Weddings in Upcoming Game](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9XPYuu3M.m3u8) (1:48)

![Nintendo Says No to Gay Weddings in Upcoming Game](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/9XPYuu3M/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2014-05-08. In Nintendo’s new social simulation game Tomodachi Life, you can do just about anything... but if you’re gay, you can’t get married._


---

Jul 27, 2023 4:37 PM UTC

---

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---


## Transcript

The idea of social simulation video games like the SIMS is to be able to do all the things people can do in real life, in a virtual world. In Nintendo's new game, Tomodochi Life, you can dress up as Mario, and enjoy the sunset with Princess Peach. But if you're gay, you can't get married. And matrimony is one of the game's biggest elements. You can only do certain things like raise a child if you are married to another character in the game. This missing feature drove one gamer to speak out. Since then, he's received significant support for his cause. Not being able to date and marry the gender that I'm attracted to in real life, really takes all of the immersion and fun out of the game for me.

With the hashtag Miiquality, Tye Marini started a social media campaign to try and convince Nintendo to change the game to allow gay marriage. While he does have a lot of support, it looks like the game will be released as is. Nintendo responded to the backlash with a statement. The relationship options in the game represent a playful alternate world rather than a real life simulation. We never intended to make any form of social commentary. But, that excuse doesn't seem to be enough for the gaming community. Kotaku points out, denying gay people the right to get married in a game about relationships and marriage is itself social commentary.

NBC News argues, it's more about cultural differences across borders than Nintendo being insensitive. The issue marks not only a cultural divide between Japan, where gay marriage is not legal, but also in the interactive world where games are often painstakingly " localized" for other regions. Tomodachi Life is set to be released June 6th. And while Marini wants the game to be changed, he has not called for a boycott of the new Nintendo title. Thanks for watching. I'm Jamal Andress.

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