Why Representation In Video Games Matters

Football Manager 27 is taking an important step towards making gaming more inclusive by allowing players to create wheelchair-using managers. But the bigger question is whether the gaming industry is finally ready to represent everyone.

Video games have become more accessible than ever, opening up opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy experiences that were once difficult or impossible to access. However, accessibility is only one part of the picture. Another important issue remains: representation.

For many disabled gamers, being able to play a game is not enough. They also want to see characters who look like them, share their experiences and reflect the diversity of the real world.

Now, popular football management simulation series Football Manager is taking a meaningful step towards addressing this issue.

Football Manager puts inclusion in the spotlight

The latest edition, Football Manager 27, introduces an option that allows players to create a manager who uses a wheelchair.

The feature gives gamers more freedom to design characters that reflect their own identities and experiences. It is part of developer Sports Interactive’s wider commitment to making the franchise more inclusive.

The move has been welcomed by 16-year-old Will Rees, a powerchair football player for Wrexham AFC.

Will, who has a number of physical conditions affecting his spine and joints, described the feature as amazing. He believes it could encourage more wheelchair users to feel included in the gaming community.

His reaction highlights something that is sometimes overlooked in game development: representation can have a powerful emotional impact.

When people see themselves reflected in the games they love, they can feel recognised, valued and included.

Why representation matters

For years, disabled characters have been relatively uncommon in mainstream video games. Although some well-known titles have included characters with disabilities, representation remains limited.

For example, the Spider-Man video game series features Hailey Cooper, a deaf character who communicates using American Sign Language. Meanwhile, Grand Theft Auto V includes Lester, a character who uses a walking stick and a wheelchair.

These examples demonstrate that disability can be incorporated into storytelling and character development without becoming the defining feature of a character.

A 2023 survey by disability charity Scope also highlighted the importance of more frequent and accurate representation in video games.

The message is clear: disabled gamers want more than the ability to access games. They want to feel that they belong in them.

Inclusion goes beyond character creation

One particularly encouraging aspect of Football Manager 27 is that the developers have considered more than simply adding wheelchairs to the character creator.

Sports Interactive has also made adjustments to the virtual environment to accommodate wheelchair users.

For example, ramps have been added to trophy plinths, while changes have been made to camera angles and the way managers behave on the touchline during matches.

The game also includes accessibility improvements such as simpler menu navigation and more options for customising how information is displayed.

These changes demonstrate an important distinction between representation and genuine inclusion.

Representation means allowing people to see themselves in a game. Inclusion means ensuring that the world around those characters accommodates them too.

Both are essential if developers want to create experiences that genuinely reflect different people and their needs.

A journey that takes time

According to Sports Interactive’s head of production, Stu Boyd, the introduction of wheelchair representation is part of a longer-term plan.

The developer previously introduced features such as hearing aids and eye patches in 2025. Wheelchair representation is the next stage of that process.

The company acknowledges that it cannot introduce every accessibility and representation feature at once. However, its intention is to continue making improvements with each annual release.

Character artist Steve Norgate explained that developing the wheelchair feature required careful work to ensure it was implemented properly.

This is important because meaningful representation should not be rushed or treated as a marketing exercise. It requires research, consideration and an understanding of the people being represented.

Dealing with criticism and negative reactions

Despite receiving considerable praise, the announcement also attracted some negative comments online.

Unfortunately, this is not unusual when entertainment products introduce changes intended to improve diversity and representation.

However, negative reactions should not overshadow the positive impact such developments can have.

Boyd hopes that as representation becomes more normal across the gaming industry, it will attract less controversy.

Worthing FC owner George Dowell MBE, who has a spinal cord injury, also believes changes like this could encourage more wheelchair users to become involved in football.

His perspective highlights another important point: seeing disability represented in virtual environments could inspire people to explore opportunities in real life.

The future of inclusive gaming

Football Manager 27’s wheelchair feature may appear to be a relatively small addition, but its significance goes beyond the game itself.

It sends a message that disabled people should be considered when developers design characters, environments and gaming experiences.

The industry has made progress in improving accessibility, from customisable controls to visual and audio support. The next challenge is ensuring that representation receives the same attention.

Developers should continue listening to disabled gamers, involving people with lived experience in the design process and creating characters who represent different abilities without relying on stereotypes.

Most importantly, disability should not be treated as an unusual addition to a game. It should be recognised as a natural part of human diversity.

Final thoughts: Everyone deserves a place in the game

Will Rees summed up the issue with a simple but powerful message: disabled people want to be treated like everyone else, not made to feel different.

That is ultimately what inclusive gaming should be about.

Football Manager 27 is not going to solve every representation issue overnight, but it is a positive step in the right direction.

The real measure of progress will be whether other developers follow its example and make inclusion a standard part of game design rather than an occasional feature.

Because video games are meant to bring people together, offer opportunities to explore different worlds and allow players to become whoever they want to be.

Everyone deserves the chance to see themselves in those worlds.