Dexerto sat down to interview Neil Newbon, the renowned and award-winning voice actor for Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion, who revealed just how pivotal the character has been for LGBTQIA+ representation in video games.
For many, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game where players feel seen. Regardless of its fantasy nature and spellcasting features, the game manages to capture personalities perfectly. As such, fans instantly began seeing themselves in the companions, and characters, or even people that reminded them of loved ones, who they aim to become, or the type of person they want to fall in love with.
However, one feature that has represented a sizeable change in video game narrative is LGBT+ representation – with pivotal characters being queer, trans, pansexual, and more. Dexerto sat down with Astarion voice actor – Neil Newbon – who highlighted just how important a character like Astarion is for the future of gaming.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion proves the LGBT+ narrative is changing
Speaking to Neil Newbon, we asked him all about Astarion’s place in the LGBT+ community and how the character has helped many further understand their sexuality or feel comfortable expressing themselves due to the companions’ confidence.
“I definitely think that I represent how games narratives have changed and how people’s pallets have changed with that to allow a normalization of LGBTQIA + characters in games” explained Newbon.
Speaking on this, Newborn explored how Astarion has marked a change in video game LGBT+ representation and how such representation has further allowed players to be seen and feel comfortable in their passions.
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He went on to explain that he thinks Astarion is “a really good example of how you have a kick-ass character that’s one of the heroes, even though he’s an anti-hero, that happens to be pansexual, that happens to be queer.”
Thanks to the expert writing of Baldur’s Gate 3, the companions – with Astarion included – are simply their own personality and characteristics, while their sexuality is just a “flavor” rather than a defining factor. Or, something that needs to be focused on throughout their journey. After all, there’s a lot for these characters to worry about beyond sexual preferences.
Essentially, through the recognizable personality traits and the excellent writing for the game, Astarion “can represent the normalization of [LGBT+ characters] within society.” On top of this, Neil highlighted how “it’s great to be able to say it’s normal. That’s just a flavor that he has” rather than his sexuality being the primary focus of the character.
“I just like the fact that people have connected to him, and I love the fact that I get to champion along with all the other amazing people in the world that do so much for the LGBTQIA + community, that I also get to contribute to that narrative and to also help and educate” explained Neil, proving just hope much of an impact the character has had on the community and game production as a whole.
