Continuing to make good on their commitment to expanding their game post-launch, developer Unknown Worlds has announced that a female space marine player model will be added to Natural Selection 2 for all players in late August/early September.

The game industry has a history of depicting female characters inappropriately. Often, they are stylised to such a degree that they become sexual objects: While their male comrades are clothed, armed and armoured to fight, the female character is notable for the lack of any clothing at all. When female characters are granted equal protection, that protection often ignores basic laws of physics in favour of offering titillating form.

This is not good enough, and it’s not a trope Unknown Worlds will entertain. Games are legitimate cultural influences, and game developers are responsible for the message they choose to convey to players. The Natural Selection 2 female marine is first and foremost, like her male colleague, a soldier. Her armour puts function before form, while adopting the science fiction, melee combat aligned design ques that have made the male marine so uniquely recognisable.

Like the current male marine in the game's human faction, three variants of the female character (standard, deluxe armour, and black armour) will be made available to players that have purchased the standard, deluxe and pre-order special edition tiers of the game.

Head over to the official website for a closer look.