Derived from the term ''Gender-Locking'' known in some videogames, where in full character customization is blocked behind a gender-
lock. A simplified primary example is locking classes or races behind a gender for lore reasons.
Straight-Locking can be found in videogames where your character customization is suddenly limited when in the game itself you cannot express your character'
s sexuality or romantic preferences in dialogue or settings.
Straight-locking only truly visibly occurs when a game with character-customization forces the
player to partake in heterosexual romance which is either not optional, or the only romantic options given.
A videogame with a pre-written character that has already established lore about their gender identity and sexuality with romantic options isn't ''
straight-locking'' as it is not offering character customization, only a pre-written narrative and character design. (Examples; Geralt of Rivia, Kratos, etc.)
''I downloaded this quest mod in Skyrim which also adds a few npcs that flirt with the player character, however I feel uncomfortable at the
straight-locking dialogue, as I cannot make my character tell the female npcs that he's gay, to make them stop flirting.''
''I was really excited for this videogame, but feel a bit disappointed that my only romance options are
straight-locked, Either I flirt with a girl, or my character is
asexual.''
''Tomodachi is great! But it got straight-locking in it, the only romances that can happen are male x female.''
