«Players are forced to actively put themselves in the shoes of someone in a new relationship. That can make them recontextualize their own life. I mean, that's what art is meant to do anyway. Art is meant to make you rethink your position in life, and that's the mirror to nature principle. But because of the self-insert nature of video games being so strong, players can feel this on a fundamental, instinctive, and interior level that you wouldn't necessarily if you are watching a story playing out externally».

This statement alone tells me everything, hybris, I haven't read everything yet. Lol, how amusing. No, art ist NOT there for people to REthink their position in life. Some people, who see art, may do this, but it is not exclusively "there" to "rethink". I don't believe in so-called, self-described "artists" who create "art" for the purpose of TEACHING "other" people. I personally see something like this as propaganda. For me, true artists are humble and create art for art's sake, which to me means so much, from within, the feeling in which the whole world, its ups and downs, the abysses and heavens, the sufferings and joys, the birds on the treetops, the insects in the air and under the fallen leaves, the grieving mother, the screaming child, the suffering of war, well I don't need to be baroque, but - reflects (!). I'm sorry , surprise, surprise, but for me you are not an artist. Well, that's just a side note.

Whatever they wanted to "teach" people, it went horrible wrong. There is a reason, why deviant sexual sadism (=non-consensual) is not mainstream. Because of this:

Originally Posted by starryophonic
I also want to add, if the intention for this or ANY game is to show abuse, gaslighting, or problematic behaviors, that can be incredibly triggering for many players (look how many people were triggered by the new AA kisses who previously did NOT find any of AA's behavior triggering). You can't just throw that stuff in a game without some kind of content warning. The player deserves to know what they're getting into.

But maybe someday it's normal to incorporate pedophilia and show and roleplay sexual child abuse in a mainstream game. I am sure, there are fanfics about it.

"I would, thank God, watch the universe perish without shedding a tear."