BioWare's Presence in Queer Game Studies Research – A Literature Review

Abstract

This thesis examines, with the use of a qualitative literature review, the following question: What kind of queer game studies research does the game studio BioWare and its video games appear in, and what do these appearances tell us about research into queerness in role-playing games? Focusing on the variety of research methods, theories, and approaches applied to studying BioWare games observable within the gathered literature, this thesis highlights the multidisciplinary and intersectional nature of queer game studies, and seeks to get an understanding of the meaning the diversity of methodological approaches and research topics has on BioWare’s presence within queer game studies.

A great variety of research topics and methodologies applied to studying BioWare within the gathered literature leads this thesis to draw the conclusion that BioWare’s presence within queer game studies is a major one. This is due to both the diversity of past research focused on the studio’s productions, and the potential for future examination of BioWare’s queer content and representational possibilities, in light of the studio’s past and current successes and uncertainties.