Online competitive event Twitch Rivals is facing criticism after announcing a special tournament to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Scheduled for March 8th, the event will feature cooking simulation game Overcooked 2, a choice that has sparked visible disdain across social media. While framed as a tribute to women in gaming, many online have questioned the choice of spotlighting a cooking game on a day meant to celebrate women’s achievements.

According to the announcement, the event is described as “a celebration of the voices shaping the worlds we play in,” with “Overcooked 2 in the spotlight. The post positions the event as a commemorative competition highlighting women creators and community figures.

Between comments and quote posts, the announcement drew indignation and surprise from many who argued that, regardless of intent, associating Women’s Day with a cooking-themed game plays into stereotypes that have long been weaponised against women in online spaces.

The issue lies in the symbolism of choosing a cooking game to spotlight womens’ achievements in the video game industry.

In gaming culture, telling women to ‘stay in the kitchen’ has been a persistent form of harassment that reflects archaic gender norms confining women to domestic roles. Therefore, this has been used to belittle and exclude women from gaming spaces. 

While Overcooked 2 is a teamwork-based party game enjoyed by players of all genders, the context in which it’s presented, and when, matters. On a day dedicated to celebrating women’s contributions, choosing a cooking game — intentionally or not — risks echoing the very stereotypes International Women’s Day seeks to challenge.

The backlash also cannot be separated from the broader history of hostility that many women face in gaming and esports spaces. For years, women players, streamers, and professionals have reported targeted harassment and dismissal of their expertise.

Representation has improved, but inequities remain visible across competitive and casual environments alike.

The controversy surrounding Twitch Rivals’ announcement highlights the still-relevant sensitivity surrounding representation in gaming. While major progress has been made over the past few years, the industry’s history of exclusion and hostility means symbolic decisions are rarely viewed in isolation.