The developer, Brenda Romero, explicitly prioritized representation so players could "see yourself, whoever you are," resulting in a diverse cast drawn from research plus creative additions like a non-binary character "R" voiced by a non-binary actor and appropriate voice casting for Navajo and Cree gangsters. This extends to equal-opportunity brothels and a relationship system where crew members can form same-sex lover bonds that develop organically over time and may trigger jealousy events.

These elements reflect deliberate inclusivity choices rather than strict historical fidelity alone. However, the core premise remains traditional gangster strategy gameplay with no overt social justice lectures, systemic oppression framing, or identity politics as narrative drivers.

Discrimination appears only incidentally, such as through a racist NPC boss. No consultancy involvement or major controversies emerged in research, and reception gaps stem from bugs rather than messaging.