“More Than Just Playing a Character”: Gender Exploration and Expression in Avatar Customization

Avatar customization in games is seen as a crucial avenue for players to express and explore gender. While gender options in avatar customization systems are frequently binary, players could still achieve diverse gender expressions. This study investigates how players express and explore gender through avatar customization systems in videogames. Through semistructured interviews with 20 players from different countries who self-reported diverse genders, we identified three major themes: (i) conforming to and/or subverting gender norms; (ii) symbolizing self-identity; and (iii) exploring and experimenting with gender. These themes reveal how players utilize customization options to express gender beyond binary constraints. This research provides critical insights for game designers to support diverse gender expressions. The findings suggest that avatar customization systems are dynamic spaces for ongoing gender identity exploration.