If fans are already pissed about stiff like this, they will be furious when the final product comes out.
Want to explain what "stuff like this" is?
The representation of black people? Is there something else in the game "like this" that would be problematic? Because I'm super looking forward to the game and don't think I'm worried about anything other than how Barret is represented.
Or is this just a lazy drive-by "outrage culture" post with nothing of substance to speak on?
Ah, we're going to contextualize it like that, huh? Guess I shouldn't like Street Fighter as much as I do considering its use of stereotypes behind character design, then? Should I ignore the obvious Balrog/Tyson parallel or is that too offensive in the modern era? Hell, I'm Arabic and I love the hell outta Rashid and the dude is literally got a stage dedicated to a plane.
But hey, Mr. T's racist now, so what am I to say? This seems like insane exaggeration.
I'm never going to tell another person how they should feel about the representation they're getting. If you like Rashid, that's awesome. There might be other people out there who don't, and that's less awesome, but perfectly valid. I'd rather listen to the why's of both and have that inform my opinion than lash out at something another poster didn't say. For example, Mr. T isn't racist. Nobody ever said Mr. T is racist. Mr. T is his own person who created his persona based on the history of oppression and pride he's got in his heritage. He's an amazing person, and I'd suggest watching some interviews with him like this one:
If Barret talked like this, I'd be super fucking stoked.
I never said you were racist for liking Barret. That's projection on your part and something you need to think on yourself. Balrog/Tyson isn't offensive, but some of the art Capcom puts out for Balrog is stereotypical and offensive. Black representation in Japanese media can be problematic.