Mortal Kombat Series Introduces First Gay Character, Kung Jin

For the first time, players of the massively popular Mortal Kombat series have the option to play as a gay character in the franchise's latest installment, "Mortal Kombat X."

Kotaku reports that Kung Jin, a former thief turned Shaolin monk, hints at his sexuality in a flashback scene where Jin is pressed to join the Shaolin monks. Jin reportedly says, “I can't... They won't accept,” with another character responding, “They care about only what is in your heart; not whom your heart desires.”

Check the scene out in the clip above.

Dominic Cianciolo, cinematic director of NetherRealm Studios, the production team behind the Mortal Kombat series, later seemed to confirm the speculation surrounding Jin's sexuality in a tweet to a fan.

LGBT representation within the gaming world has continued to increase over the past several years alongside mainstream LGBT visibility. In July 2014, a game called "Fragments of Him" explored queer love and loss following the death of one man's partner. There is also an annual convention for LGBT gamers called GX3, with the next meet-up slated for December 2015.

(h/t Towleroad)