10 EXACT Moments Video Games Gave Us The ICK
6. The Gay Predators - Persona 5
Publisher Atlus has been regularly criticised for their regressive representations of both gay and trans characters in their games, and perhaps never more so than in the generally spectacular Persona 5.
One of the game's few encounters with gay characters sees Ryuji and Joker cross paths with two unnamed gay men, who beyond simply being depicted in the stereotypically effeminate way of a '90s sitcom, are painted as lecherous predators who wish to take advantage of the underage Ryuji.
The scene even concludes with the screen cutting to black as the two men grab Ryuji and drag him away, presumably to have their way with him, while Joker does nothing at all to help.
In a game with almost no gay representation whatsoever, many fans interpreted their presence as homophobic, and in the very least it reflected some incredibly fearful and dated opinions about gay people.
For the more recent Persona 5 Royal re-release, the two men were given names - Angel and Julian - and their aggressiveness toned down, though they still end up accosting Ryuji and dragging him away against his will to try on women's clothing. Not good.