The Photo Booth

The game used the photo booth as a way to subvert violence and promote connection between characters. The moment in the photo booth was meant to show the girls starting to reveal their true feelings for each other. Despite being an intimate character moment, the studio invested a lot of resources into making it impactful. This moment changed how the studio approached game development and the types of moments they are willing to invest in. Recapturing the photo booth moment in the sequel was important to the developers. The physical contact between Ellie and Riley causes Ellie to be both excited and terrified. Ellie is afraid that Riley will see through her and reject her. Growing up gay adds additional layers of fear and rejection that Ellie is afraid of. It's not just a rejection of romance, but a total rejection of her as a person and friend.