The video-game giant Nintendo has apologised and promised to be more inclusive, after being criticised for not recognising same-sex relationships in English-language editions of a life-simulator video game. The company said, however, it was too late to change the game.

In a statement released on Friday, the Japanese company said: “We apologise for disappointing many people by failing to include same-sex relationships in Tomodachi Life.

“Unfortunately, it is not possible for us to change this game’s design, and such a significant development change can’t be accomplished with a post-ship patch.”

Nintendo came under fire from fans and gay rights organisations this past week after refusing to add same-sex relationship options to the game Tomodachi Life.

The game was released in Japan last year and features a cast of Mii characters – Nintendo's personalised avatars of real players – living on a virtual island. Gamers can do things like shop, play games, go on dates and get married.

Already a hit in Japan, Tomodachi Life is set for release 6 June in North America and Europe.

The statement continued: “At Nintendo, dedication has always meant going beyond the games to promote a sense of community, and to share a spirit of fun and joy. We are committed to advancing our longtime company values of fun and entertainment for everyone.

“We pledge that if we create a next instalment in the Tomodachi series, we will strive to design a game-play experience from the ground up that is more inclusive, and better represents all players.”