The video game industry is constantly blowing up, pouring out new content for fans to enjoy and creating a large profit from it. Many online creators have a considerable income simply from recording their gameplay and posting on the internet, and as the industry grows in popularity, it is natural that progress ensues as a result. "Fortnite" continues to infiltrate modern culture as its developers donate millions of dollars for the purpose of tournaments, "GTA V" recently broke a record as the "fastest entertainment property to generate $1 billion," and the E3 convention has thrived upon providing a space where avid gamers can celebrate the beloved content.
Two weeks ago, Quantic Dream—a French video game developer—released its newest edition: "Detroit: Become Human." A choice-based story in which the player determines the route of the game through their quick decisions, the plot follows three main characters set in the near future in a world in which androids have been created to fulfill the basic tasks that humans have instructed them to complete.
The three main characters—Connor, Kara, and Markus—are all androids designed for their particular role. However, amidst the brewing civil war between androids and humans, the game brings up important topics that echo our history in a way that is intriguing. Many of these androids are mistreated and are developing emotions that are not part of their program, pushing the player to question relevant concepts such as the progress of technology, mistreatment among social classes, and even slavery.
Each of the three characters follows their individual storylines but often find themselves connected in a larger arc: how far will they go to become human?
There are several reasons that "Detroit: Become Human" has already become a major success for Quantic Dream. First, the futuristic world challenges the player to recognize the injustices in their world in a way that feels raw and realistic. The graphics continue to set the game apart, painting a vivid world that is multi-dimensional and an improvement from the recent video games, almost resembling a film in terms of looks. With exquisite details that have been created over the span of several years, the player has so much content to explore within the gripping action that keeps them on the edge of their seat.
Each of the cast of characters is intriguing in their own ways, and with the perfect balance of suspense, action, and characterization, Quantic Dream created a masterpiece that reflects much of what entertainment should be: a great story. The success it has gained thus far is well deserved, and as the industry continues to grow, games like "Detroit: Become Human" are setting standards even higher.
It is time that society recognizes that the gaming industry is a formidable force. With more people tuning into the "Friday Fortnite" tournament than "The Walking Dead", we are in an age where entertainment comes in many forms, and if we want to observe all of the ideas of the world, we need to remain open-minded to this change.
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