Disappointed by the lack of same-sex relationship options in Star Wars: The Old Republic, particularly given Bioware’s inclusion of such options in Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Jade Empire, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, fans called on the company to bring these options to the MMORPG. As a bit of a compromise, the company added NPCs who would be available for romancing by male and female player-characters to the planet Makeb, which was only available in the “Rise of the Hutt Cartel” expansion pack. This was a controversial decision, first because some players were opposed to the addition of same-sex romance options at all. Second, other players felt that adding this to a portion of the game only available to players who could afford the expansion pack and only on one planet was tantamount to segregating the potential homosexual and bisexual content.

Additional same-sex relationship options in this game, sent in via email, include:

Lord Cytharat – Sith Male – Gay

Theron Shan – Human Cyborg Male – Bi

Lemda Avesta – Human Female – Bi

Lana Beniko – Human Female – Bi

Koth Vortena – Human Male – Bi

Citations:

1. Bioware Introduces Same-Gender Romance in Star Wars: The Old Republic. (January 17, 2013). Retrieved from http://gfbrobot.com/2013/01/17/bioware-introduces-same-gender-romance-in-star-wars-the-old-republic
2. FoxNews.com (2013, January 14). ‘Star Wars’ game segregates gay characters on gay planet. Fox News- Technology. http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/01/14/star-wars-game-segregates-gay-characters-on-gay-planet.html
3. Haas, P. (n.d.). Star Wars: The Old Republic Same Sex Romances Arriving This Year. Retrieved from http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Star-Wars-Republic-Same-Sex-Romances-Arriving-Year-50978.html
4. Hamilton, M. (2013, January 25). Star Wars: The Old Republic, the gay planet and the problem of the straight male gaze. The Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/jan/25/star-wars-old-republic-gay-planet
5. Hogarty, S. (n.d.). Say hello to The Old Republic’s gay planet. PCGames. http://www.pcgamesn.com/swtor/say-hello-old-republics-gay-planet
6. Johnston, R. (2013, January 14). The Star Wars Gay Ghetto Planet of Makeb. Bleeding Cool. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/01/14/the-star-wars-gay-ghetto-planet-of-makeb/
7. Katz, L. (2013, January 2). Star Wars: The Old Republic embraces same-sex romance. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/news/star-wars-the-old-republic-embraces-same-sex-romance
8. Makeb. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Makeb
9. Prior, J. (2013, March 29). SWTOR Loading Screen: Same Gender Romances in Rise of the Hutt Cartel. Retrieved from http://torwars.com/swtor-loading-screen-same-gender-romances-in-rise-of-the-hutt-cartel
10. Rath, R. (2013, January 17). Why Makeb Hits LGBT Players So Hard. The Escapist. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/criticalintel/10145-Why-Makeb-Hits-LGBT-Players-So-Hard
11. Smith, E. (2013, January 14). Star Wars Game Segreates Gay Characters onto “Gay Planet.’ International Business Times. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/star-wars-old-republic-sgr-gay-planet-423849
12. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (series). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_Knights_of_the_Old_Republic_(series)
13. Sterling, J. (2013, January 14). Star Wars: The Old republic and its new ‘Gay Planet.’ Destructoid. http://www.destructoid.com/star-wars-the-old-republic-and-its-new-gay-planet–242389.phtml