Final Fantasy players hold virtual Pride parade to celebrate same-sex marriage

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Final Fantasy players have held a virtual Pride parade, to celebrate the introduction of same-sex marriage to the game series.

Final Fantasy players hold virtual Pride parade to celebrate same-sex marriage

Developer Naoki Yoshida of Square Enix announced last month that an update would finally allow online Final Fantasy XIV players to marry people of the same gender.

Holding a ‘Pixel Pride’ parade this week, players arranged themselves in the parade according to their armour colour, forming a rainbow flag as they marched through the centre of one of the game’s virtual cities.

It was organised by the Rough Trade Gaming Community, a group of LGBT gamers that span several different online games, including World of Warcraft, Guild Wars, and Elder Scrolls Online.

Final Fantasy players hold virtual Pride parade to celebrate same-sex marriage

A statement from the group said: “In honor of Yoshida-san allowing marriage in the game to happen regardless of race, origin, state, and gender, Rough Trade Gaming Community (the world’s largest LGBT guild) wanted to provide a video of thanks.

“We also want to remember Erotes, one of our own players who was tragically murdered in the Calgary stabbings a month before this video took place. Even when tragedy affects our community, there’s still a reason to keep on marching.”

Final Fantasy players hold virtual Pride parade to celebrate same-sex marriage

Square Enix director Naoki Yoshida said previously: “People within Eorzea will be able to pledge their eternal love and or friendship in a ceremony of eternal bonding. And this will be open to people regardless of race, creed, and gender.

“Two players… if they want to be together, in Eorzea, they can, through this eternal bonding ceremony.”

“We discussed it, and we realized: within Eorzea, why should there be restrictions on who pledges their love or friendship to each other? And so we decided to go this way.”

Watch the Parade below:

Pictures: Rough Trade Gaming Community