Despite being embroiled in controversy, Hogwarts Legacy is making strides to be as inclusive as possible going forward by including transgender options in its' character creation process.
This may not be the most unusual thing, as many recent games include similar options, but it is important when you look at the controversy the game is unfortunately involved in.
Below, we have an explanation of everything you need to know about Hogwarts Legacy and its' wonderful transgender character creation options.
Pushing For Inclusivity
Speaking to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, unnamed developers working on WB Games' Hogwarts Legacy have been pushing for inclusivity and trans representation in-game for a while now.
It seems that, at last, there is finally some news that their efforts are being recognised.
" When players start up the game, they will be able to create a character that has a masculine or feminine voice no matter what their body looks like, according to people familiar with the game’s development."
Following this, they will be able to choose whether to be referred to as a "Witch" or as a "Wizard" in-game.
This is, of course, a fantastic inclusion to any video game with character creation but it is all-the-more important following the recent controversy surrounding the Harry Potter franchise and Hogwarts Legacy.
However, there are reports that there is still friction against the idea of including a transgender character in-game. We're not sure as to why this is an issue for the higher-ups at WB Games, but with any luck, they'll change their tune.
The Curse Of The Creator
Despite being in no way linked to the development of Hogwarts Legacy, comments made last year by J.K. Rowling have tainted the project for many avid fans of the Harry Potter franchise.
Although not a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community, Rowling's comments were a demeaning statement regarding transgender people and led to her statements being denounced by many high-profile figures, including both Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
The Harry Potter author has been labelled a TERF ( Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist) by many and her blog post from last year reaffirming her controversial position appears to reinforce this.
Leavitt's Attachment
This isn't the only controversy Hogwarts Legacy has faced recently, though.
Last month, reports regarding Senior Producer Troy Leavitt came to light which further damaged Hogwarts Legacy's image.
Leavitt is a far-right YouTuber who has expressed anti-feminist views and support for the damaging GamerGate community.
The GamerGate community is a loose minority who harass and attack journalists and video game devs for expressing progressive views.
Schreier reports that this discovery led to ResetEra completely banning any promotional media regarding Hogwart Legacy in an effort to highlight the issue.
READ MORE: Hogwarts Legacy's Morality System Could Feel Like RDR2
Leavitt is still working on Hogwarts Legacy, and this could relate to the " resistance from management" mentioned regarding the inclusion of transgender options in Hogwarts Legacy's character creation but it is reportedly still included in the current build of the game.
Inclusivity Is At Harry Potter's Heart
When you look back on the story of Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, you can't ignore the fact that it is heavily imbued with ideas of inclusivity.
This is what makes Rowling's comments all the more upsetting for fans and the fact that Leavitt is still attached to the project.
READ MORE: Hogwarts Legacy Delayed Until 2022 Amidst Controversy
Everyone, no matter their gender identity, deserves to enjoy Hogwarts Legacy. Hopefully, these reports and the actions taken by WB Games are an important stepping stone in repairing the damaged relationship between Hogwarts Legacy, Harry Potter, and fans of the series/