As more information about Nier Replicant emerges, an achievement involving Kaine is sparking controversy among fans on social media.
As more information emerges around the upcoming release of Kidney Replicantthe nature and wording of one achievement have become the center of controversy. The performance is called “Daredevil,” which fans speculate is all about Kidney Replicant‘s intersex character, Kaine.
While the actual in-game requirements for unlocking the “Daredevil” achievement have not been revealed, fans suspect it is something similar to “What are you doing?” Achievement players unlocked by looking up 2B’s skirt Nier Automata. Both services are formulated almost identically. The “What are you doing?” The description of the feat is given as discovering 2B’s secret 10 times, while “Daredevil’s” feat says, “You risked life and limb 10 times to discover someone’s secret.”
Twitter exploded with responses to this performance, many claiming it fetishizes intersex people. Among those offended by the achievement, many said this could be a deal-breaker regarding whether or not to buy the game, with some suggesting that the achievement is simply removed from the game. Others were relatively unsurprised by the recording, pointing to the “What are you doing?” achievement as evidence of Yoko Taro’s historically controversial choices.
Oh wow.
That’s even worse than the vending machines to do it.– E. nero (@ Enero49012676) April 21, 2021
While the nature of the achievement appears to be an open and closed affair, many warned against criticizing the game before it was released, proposing instead that Yoko Taro would have handled Kaine in a more tactful way than this achievement suggests. But even among those who weren’t personally offended, most agreed that this was a mistake that Square Enix needed to correct.
With the official release just days away, this controversy stands like a dark cloud hovering over a game otherwise celebrated with tons of fan art and appreciation posts. Among the crowd, the Twitter user’s dragon mechanism, who self-identified as intersex, sought to shed light on exactly why the feat was so offensive, citing Kaine as a character they closely identified with.
It perpetuates gross stereotypes about intersex people. If you don’t understand that, then you’ve missed the point of Kaine’s character arc. She spends the entire game trying to prove to everyone around her that she is a woman. Including herself. This achievement is disrespectful.
– Radio🐲 (@dragonmechanism) April 21, 2021
As the celebration grows Kidney Replicant‘s release, with the opening of cafes in Osaka and Tokyo, this incident recalls the difficult topic in the US To deny franchise. While many Twitter users seem to accept that Square Enix and Taro had no intention of deliberately insulting their audience, the fact remains that many have been hurt, and the group most affected is one that is already marginalized. The fix is relatively straightforward, but whether or not “Daredevil” performance will be addressed before release remains to be seen.
Kidney Replicant ver. 1.22474487139 coming to PC, PS4 and Xbox One on April 23, 2021.
