Hogwarts Legacy Will Reportedly Let You Create Trans Characters

Views expressed by franchise creator JK Rowling and designer Troy Leavitt had some fans concerned


Published: March 2, 2021 9:30 AM /

By:


The logo and artwork for Hogwarts Legacy

Upcoming Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy will allow the creation of transgender characters. You'll be able to choose from a male or female voice regardless of your body type, and you'll also get a choice of which dorm you're assigned to.

What will Hogwarts Legacy have by way of inclusivity options?

This news comes to us via Jason Schreier at Bloomberg. Schreier says that you'll be able to choose a "masculine or feminine voice" no matter what your body looks like, citing people familiar with Hogwarts Legacy's development as sources. Said sources didn't want to reveal their identities because they didn't have authorization to discuss the game with the press. According to Schreier, you'll be able to pick between "witch" and "wizard" options and will then be assigned a dorm based on your choice, regardless of what your character looks like.

A player using their wand in Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy will allow you to create your own student of Hogwarts.

This is big news, mostly because Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has repeatedly expressed views widely considered to be derogatory towards trans people and identities. In addition, Avalanche Studios designer Troy Leavitt was recently found to have been a right-wing YouTuber with several videos harshly criticizing "feminists" and "social justice warriors". Understandably, many gamers became worried that Hogwarts Legacy would reflect the views of these individuals, or at least not sufficiently redress them. However, in September last year, Warner Bros. distanced itself from the opinions of J.K. Rowling, claiming she wasn't directly involved in its creation. The studio has yet to comment on Troy Leavitt's YouTuber past and his current involvement in the project, however.

What is Hogwarts Legacy?

Announced in September last yearHogwarts Legacy is an open-world RPG that takes place in the Harry Potter Wizarding World. It's set several decades prior to the events of the main book series, so you're not likely to see Harry and his friends popping up. However, you will be able to create your own Hogwarts student and experience life at the magic school in the late Victorian era. Some series mainstays, like wandmaker Ollivander and spooky specter Nearly Headless Nick, will make an appearance.

Hogwarts Legacy was recently delayed to 2022. Although the Covid-19 pandemic isn't explicitly mentioned as a reason for the delay, it has significantly impacted the development of many games, including Gran Turismo 7For Honor, and Final Fantasy VII Remake. We'll bring you more news on Hogwarts Legacy - including, hopefully, a release date sometime soon - as soon as we get it.

Are you excited for Hogwarts Legacy? Let us know in the comments below! 

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


Joe Allen's profile picture
| Senior Writer

Joe has been writing for TechRaptor for five years, and in those five years has learned a lot about the gaming industry and its foibles. He’s originally an… More about Joseph