Achmad Budiman Sudarsono, Fitri Sarasati, Iqbal Rocki Ulhaq
ABSTRACT:
The rapid growth of digital gaming has transformed games into interactive environments shaping meaning, identity, and social interaction. This study examined the representation of female character sensuality in Garena Free Fire, and how such representations were interpreted by players. Using a qualitative approach, this research combined Fiske’s semiotic analysis to identify how visual elements such as body proportion, costume, and character design construct meanings of femininity and sensuality, alongside Hall’s encoding/decoding model through semi-structured interviews with five active players. Findings revealed that female characters were consistently represented through standardised visual patterns emphasising slim bodies, aesthetic attractiveness, and sensual elements, even when narratively positioned as strong and competent. This reflects the persistence of the male gaze in game design, where female bodies function as objects of visual consumption. Audience responses were not uniform, as male players interpreted these representations as neutral aesthetic elements, while female players were more critical, associating them with broader social implications. These results affirm that meaning in digital games is not fixed but negotiated through interaction between media texts and audiences. This study contributes to communication research by bridging visual representation and audience reception, demonstrating that digital games operate as dynamic spaces where ideology, aesthetics, and user experience intersect.
KEY WORDS:
audience reception, digital games, female representation, male gaze, semiotics, sensuality.
DOI:
10.34135/actaludologica.2026-9-1.52-65
HOW TO CITE:
Sudarsono, A. B, Sarasati, F., & Ulhaq, I. R. (2026). Between empowerment and objectification: Female character sensuality in Garena Free Fire. Acta Ludologica, 9(1), 52-65. http://doi.org/10.34135/actaludologica.2026-9-1.52-65
Between Empowerment and Objectification: Female Character Sensuality in Garena Free Fire © 2026 by Achmad Budiman Sudarsono, Fitri Sarasati, Iqbal Rocki Ulhaq is licensed under CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0
