In the aftermath of Marek Tymiński’s now-viral poll on gender selection in medieval fantasy RPGs, the CEO of CI Games has taken a decisive stance that is sure to resonate with many gamers. Following overwhelming support for the traditional “male or female” character options—88% of 49,000+ voters—Tymiński announced via X that the studio would not only adhere to these preferences in future games but also retroactively update Lords of the Fallen to align with player feedback.
With over 49K votes, 88% of you said you prefer “male/female” choice. As a player-first studio, we will update Lords of the Fallen (2023) and future titles in the series accordingly. Stay Tuned. https://t.co/L6MgMk7Ada
— Marek Tyminski (@tyminski_marek) January 15, 2025
“With over 49K votes, 88% of you said you prefer ‘male/female’ choice,” he said. “As a player-first studio, we will update Lords of the Fallen (2023) and future titles in the series accordingly. Stay tuned.”
Lords of the Fallen had infamously abandoned the traditional male/female gender options in the name of supposed “inclusivity” when the game launched in 2023. This drew the ire of a gaming audience utterly exhausted by identity politics in AAA gaming.
This announcement marks a significant shift in the industry. It highlights what many see as a complete rejection of the “Body Type A/B” system, which has become a flashpoint for gender politics in gaming. It’s also the first time a studio has actually listened to the fans and made a change like this to reject woke ideology after a game has released.
A screenshot from the trailer for Lords of The Fallen – YouTube, Gamespot
Designed to provide gender-neutral character options, Body Type A/B allows players to choose traditionally masculine or feminine bodies without assigning them the labels “male” or “female.” The response from CI Games’ audience clearly indicates a preference for more straightforward traditional character creation options that doesn’t insert gender politics into the video game world.
The move to remove Body Type A/B from Lords of the Fallen is unprecedented, as retroactively altering a game’s character creation system is no small feat. This decision seems to showcase CI Games’ commitment to its audience and, should this promise come to pass, show that it truly is a “player-first” studio as Tyminski stated.
A poll from Marek Tyminski of CI Games on Gender selection in medieval RPGs – X, @tyminski_marek
The studio’s willingness to adjust based on direct player input is a sharp contrast to the approach taken by other developers, such as BioWare with Dragon Age: The Veilguard. That title introduced an array of progressive customization options, including mixing voice types and adding top surgery scars, but its commercial failure suggests these changes alienated a significant portion of the player base.
This shift by CI Games could have a ripple effect throughout the industry. Many developers have embraced progressive customization options, often at the expense of player preferences. The backlash to Dragon Age: The Veilguard—which suffered from poor sales, high refund rates, and low trade-in value—serves as a cautionary tale of how not to approach these issues. By directly engaging players and acting on their feedback, CI Games has positioned itself as a player-focused studio in an industry often criticized for ignoring fan input.
A screenshot from Dragon Age: The Veilguard (2024), BioWare
This moment may represent more than just a change in one game. For CI Games, it’s a bold declaration: the player’s voice matters. Whether other studios will follow this example remains to be seen, but for now, Tymiński has set a standard others may be wise to emulate.
Are you surprised that Lords of The Fallen will change its gender selection options? Do you think other studios will take note? Sound off in the comment section and let us know!
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