“The Struggle is Not New”: Why Video Games Still Can’t Get Black Hair Right

When Danielle Udogaranya’s Loc & Kinky Strand Generator Tool was released, it was a welcome relief. The technical artist behind Ebonix has spent over a decade creating custom content for life-simming games, including natural Black hairstyles that are grossly underrepresented in the industry.

The issue of inadequate Black hair representation in video games is not new. Games like The Sims have been around since 2000, but many titles still rely on tired textures that don’t come close to replicating real-life Black hairstyles. This problem stems from outdated technology – code that was not designed for textured hairstyles has led to a reliance on simplistic, unflattering styles like the infamous “Killmonger locs,” which are easier to create than more complex natural looks.

Historically, game developers have struggled with creating realistic Black hairstyles due to technical limitations. Even as 3D animation and customization capabilities have improved, this limitation persists. The Sims’ own struggles with Black hair representation illustrate the industry’s broader issues. When the game first launched, it offered limited customization options, including only three skin-tone swatches – fair, medium, and dark – and virtually nonexistent natural hairstyle options.

In recent years, some progress has been made. The launch of Code My Crown in 2023 provided a comprehensive guide for coding textured hair and protective styles in video games. EA has also released free downloadable content to help players diversify their hairstyles. However, these initiatives are stopgap measures that don’t address the root cause of the problem.

Udogaranya’s Loc & Kinky Strand Generator Tool is a step forward. By providing an efficient way to create textured styles, it eliminates the time-consuming process of creating custom content for life-simming games. The tool itself is impressive – users can switch between curls, coils, and locs in just a few clicks.

The real question now is whether Udogaranya’s tool will bring about meaningful change or simply become another add-on to an already sprawling market of customization tools. Game developers hold the key: will they use and support Udogaranya’s tool, or continue to rely on tired textures? One thing is certain – the struggle for accurate Black hair representation in video games is far from over.