Hogwarts Legacy Should Have Done More To Support Trans Players

gamerant.com:

Hogwarts Legacy has achieved immense success but not escaped controversy. The recently released RPG has become the top bestseller across multiple gaming platforms and has achieved near-universal critical and fan acclaim — a difficult feat. However, Hogwarts Legacy's fame could be due to the Harry Potter franchise's success. While Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software attempted to distance itself and the game from the discussion around Harry Potter, there is virtually no way to escape the bigoted and hateful comments of Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. While Hogwarts Legacy attempts to overcome Rowling's influence, it doesn't do enough to support the Trans gamers who are most at risk.

While some fans of the Hogwarts Legacy have been able to separate the game from J.K. Rowling, many members of the Trans community have faced the success of a game that seems to perpetuate the financial and intellectual resurgence of a transphobic figure. The long-standing debate around the moral implications of a Harry Potter game has been simmering underneath the surface of gaming culture for years. Now that Hogwarts Legacy has been released — and the parties involved in its development are richly rewarded — Trans players have not had their voices heard.

Hogwarts Legacy Developer Isn't Buying the Game

Among the deluge of controversies that have emerged after Hogwarts Legacy's release is the appearance of one specific character in the game. In the game's first act, players travel to Hogsmeade and meet Sirona Ryan, the proprietor of «The Three Broomsticks» tavern. Given that Sirona does not have a significant role in the events of Hogwarts Legacy but is openly Trans, some gamers have alleged that her character is simply the