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I had ChatGPT make it a reader's digest:
Rivet’s Design Sparked Debate Inside Insomniac
When Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was in development, a fierce internal debate broke out over the look of its new female character, Rivet.
Writer Sam Maggs fought against giving Rivet human-like breasts or makeup. She argued: “She’s a space alien, not a human woman.” She cited the Spyro Reignited Trilogy as a cautionary tale—where female characters were overly feminized—and warned it shouldn’t happen again.
Her emails defending Rivet’s androgynous design reportedly made some coworkers uncomfortable. Management wasn’t happy.
Artist Xavier backed her up, saying most of the devs were men, but the few women and trans staff on the team pushed for a gender-neutral look. Still, the game director & art director wanted a more clearly “feminine” Rivet—hips, makeup, chest curves.
Design meetings turned awkward. At one point, people pointed to concept art on a wall asking, “Which one looks like a woman?”
Ultimately, the decision leaned toward a more traditionally feminine design, which some say clashed with the game’s inclusive theme: anyone can be a hero.
The fallout?
People left. Tensions lingered. The debate over Rivet wasn’t just about a character’s design—it exposed deeper issues about gender, voice, & power in the games industry.
