Super Smash Bros Ultimate is one of the best selling fighting games of all time. Its characters represent decades of iconic games that have been loved by people around the world from many demographics.

However, if you look at the character line-up, it is hard to believe that Nintendo is aware of how many of those video game lovers are female. Out of the 85 characters that have been released so far (Sephiroth being the most recent at the time of writing), only 14 (~16%) of the characters are female with no male alternate. Considering those with male alternates, it still only adds up to 22 (~25.8%). 

To make matters worse, game developers often portray their male characters as "default" or "canon," while the female characters are alternatives. Every time a "choose your character" screen begins and the male avatar is the first face you see, it sends a message. While playing video games, my wife often points out the moments in games where contextual or dialogue awkwardness exists because the game was written with the male protagonist in mind. It takes her out of the experience and reminds her that when it comes to video games, she's not the target audience. She's an afterthought. 

You can imagine her disappointment when, after a half-year of anticipation, she found out that her favorite Smash character's amiibo would only be released as the male version. She was crushed, honestly, and not just because she had wanted to buy both to put up next to her Corrins. 

For her, Byleth was a character who was truly equal with her male alternative. Barring a few minor contextual issues, she felt like the game was built with a male and female perspective in mind, and that both protagonists were equal in strength, skill, and treatment. She was thrilled when they were added to Smash, and after watching the announcement video she exclaimed: "Female Byleth got a letter too! That means she's just as much a Smash character as him." 

I'm writing this petition for her and for all other female video game fans, Smash players, and/or amiibo collectors. Nintendo made a deliberate choice to not make an amiibo for female Byleth -- just like they chose not to make an amiibo for female Robin and female Pokemon Trainer. The only explanation we received was when Sakurai said: "Unfortunately, we're only able to create the P1 fighter amiibo." 

We know it isn't ability in and of itself holding them back. We have already seen Nintendo release a male and female Corrin, and they have even released two versions of both Cloud and Bayonetta -- just for Smash Bros. 

It is also clear that the reason is not due to game popularity. In the Fire Emblem series, Robin's game, Awakening, sold .3 million more copies than Corrin's game, Fates. Yet they didn't make an amiibo for female Robin. On top of that, Byleth's game, Three Houses, outsold Awakening by almost a million copies. And I doubt anyone needs me to tell them how popular the Pokemon franchise has been. 

In reality, it almost certainly comes down to money. To that, I can't say much, since I don't know the company's finances, but I do have a few thoughts for Nintendo. First, have faith in your collectors. Many of the people who buy amiibo do so to collect, especially within a certain game. They would buy both, just like my wife. Second, how much money is worth sending such a negative message to such a huge portion of your fan base? The statistics show that women are nearly half of video game users. It's time to act like it. 

It may seem nit-picky to call for Nintendo to make and release these female characters as amiibo, but it is an important step toward better female representation in Smash Bros and video games in general. Please, add your voice if you would like Nintendo to rectify their past choices to exclude female characters and to not make the same decisions in the future. They have the chance again when releasing Steve and Alex. Let's show them that we want both of them -- released as equals -- along with Byleth, Robin, and Pokemon Trainer. 

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Some research articles to get you started understanding gender bias in gaming and more (there is plenty of other research out there):

• Girls, Guys and Games: How News Media Perpetuate Stereotypes of Male and Female Gamers
• Level up--A Case for Female Gamers
• Women Gamers
• What is a True Gamer? The Male Gamer Stereotype and the Marginalization of Women in Video Game Culture
• Pokemon Go Players by Gender
• Distribution of Computer and Video Gamers in the United States from 2006 to 2020, by Gender
• Distribution of Annual Spending on Video Games in the United States as of January 2018, by Gender

Fire Emblem game popularity (by copies sold) 

Awakening -- 2012 -- 1.9 million units sold  

Fates -- 2015 -- 1.6 million units sold  

Three Houses -- 2019 -- 2.87 million units sold