Close to 5,000 Stardew Valley fans ask for improved pronoun options in 1.6 update

gamesradar.com:

Stardew Valley fans are asking for improved pronoun options to be included in the farming sim's upcoming 1.6 update - via a 5,000-signature petition. 

As reported by Polygon, streamer and Stardew Valley fan Atmos Fierce started the 'Pronoun Options for Trans and Non-Binary Players in Stardew Valley' petition on Change.org late last month. The goal is for the farming sim's creator, Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone, to notice the demand and implement new pronoun options in the beloved game ahead of its upcoming content update. 

As Stardew Valley players will already know, when you start a new game you're asked to select whether your character identifies as female or male, which then determines their general appearance and how they'll be referred to throughout the rest of the game. As Fierce explains in the petition: "This excludes non-binary players from fully feeling represented in their gameplay, forcing them to select between being referred to as he or she throughout their entire gameplay experience."

I've talked about this a lot and it's time to take action. There is something MAJOR the 1.6 update needs to have. We want more than just he/him and she/her pronoun options in #StardewValley!!Sign the Petition! https://t.co/Nq22veeNUY #PronounsforStardew @ConcernedApe pic.twitter.com/o9vfauXfsySeptember 29, 2023

At the time of writing, the petition has 4,275 signatures out of its 5,000 target. Several Stardew Valley fans have also shared their reasoning behind joining the cause in the petition's comments: "I use they/them pronouns. I want to love Stardew Valley but being misgendered even by a video game is exhausting," one follower has explained, "adding they/them pronouns or even custom pronouns would be so easy and would help