Nintendo adds non-binary and queer dating to Tomodachi Life, but limits screenshots

Nintendo fulfilled a 12-year-old promise today during the Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Direct by adding non-binary characters and queer dating options to the upcoming life sim, but the presentation also announced restrictions on the game's screenshot-sharing features.

When the previous Tomodachi Life launched globally in 2014, Nintendo faced criticism for failing to include same-sex relationships; that controversy prompted an apology and a pledge from Nintendo: "We pledge that if we create a next installment in the 'Tomodachi' series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players."

The new Living the Dream entry offers three gender options — male, female, and non-binary — and lets players choose any, all, or none of those genders for a character's dating preferences, the announcement said.

Despite that inclusion, the Direct also revealed restrictions on screenshot-sharing functions, a change the report said immediately broke the fandom's collective heart.

The report did not include details about how those screenshot-sharing restrictions will work, so it remains unclear what limits players will face or whether the policy could be revised ahead of release.

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