Multiple companions (Aloth, Maia, Tekēhu, Xoti, Serafen) are bisexual or available for romance regardless of the player character's sex, enabling same-sex relationships as a standard feature rather than rare or justified exceptions. The story centers on factional conflicts in the Deadfire archipelago explicitly modeled on colonial expansion, with the Vailian Trading Company and Rauataian empire representing mercantile/imperialist forces clashing against the traditionalist Huana natives, alongside themes of cultural erosion, exploitation, and power imbalances. These elements drive subplots, companion interactions, and player choices, presenting nuanced but identifiably modern critiques of imperialism and identity within the fantasy setting.

Character creation remains strictly binary male/female with no pronoun options or non-traditional identity mechanics. No evidence of consultancy firms, source-material alterations for diversity, or overt lecture-style dialogue. Pre-release forum discussions flagged concerns over 'SJW integration' via sexuality representation, and scattered player complaints noted romance options feeling intrusive, though the game faced no widespread 'go woke go broke' backlash and maintained strong reception. The ideological framing influences casting of companions and thematic depth but remains secondary to the god-pursuit premise and exploration focus.