A trans character has joined the World of Harry Potter in the Hogwarts Legacy game and people don’t know how to feel about it.
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive role-playing game that takes place in the magical world created by author J.K. Rowling. Long before the game’s release, it was met with controversy related to Rowling’s ongoing anti-trans sentiments. However, fans are now discovering that the game will introduce the first-ever trans character to the beloved franchise.
Hogwarts Legacy introduces Sirona Ryan, the Harry Potter series’ first trans character.#HogwartsLegacy #HarryPotter https://t.co/dHr0wnCCCw
— GameRevolution.com (@Game_Revolution) February 6, 2023
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Meet Transgender Bartender Sirona Ryan
Players will meet Sirona Ryan at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade while trying to complete a quest. Sirona is a bartender at the magical pub and is believed to be transgender based on a line of dialogue.
When you ask Sirona if she knows a goblin named Lodgok, she replies, “hadn’t seen him in years when he came in a few months ago. But, he recognized me instantly. Which is more than I can say for some of my own classmates. Took them a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard.”
So far, nothing else is known about Sirona’s character or whether or not she will return for later quests in the game. However, fans online were not immediately accepting of Sirona and were quick to draw attention to the NPC’s unfortunate name.
new trans character named Misterino John https://t.co/2e6VyS9HJ9
— largest rodent (@capybaroness) February 6, 2023
You know J. K. Rowling was drafting up names for her like… https://t.co/MPXzxfmCOm pic.twitter.com/B02ZvT5KSO
— (Not) YouTube Kids (@RealYouTubeKids) February 7, 2023
BREAKING: The upcoming Harry Potter universe game ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ will introduce the franchise’s first ever openly gay character, named “Homie McSexual”. pic.twitter.com/dRYcdTK9Fh
— vin! (@Vward98) February 6, 2023
Creators Say J.K. Rowling Was Not Involved in Making the Game
The creators of Hogwarts Legacy have previously assured fans that J.K. Rowling had nothing to do with the creation of the game – which likely explains the presence of a trans character in the first place. It fails to explain much else about Sirona’s place in the game.
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“The team felt that it was very important to create a game that is representative of the rich and diverse world of Harry Potter as well as the groups of people who play games, which includes the LGBTQIA+ community,” Portkey Games told IGN. “We have a diverse cast of characters that players will encounter throughout the game.
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“It has been a high priority throughout the development of Hogwarts Legacy to create a game that is representative and diverse, aligning with our wonderful fan community. Offering players choices in the way they play the game is an element that we have worked on since the start of development,” they continued. “The Character Creator is just one example of that and of course, the large, diverse cast of characters present throughout the game have also had a huge amount of thought from Avalanche and Warner Bros. Games, as well as counsel from outside D&I experts.”
However, Rowling’s views on transgender rights is not the only issue fans have with the game. Hogwarts Legacy is also facing backlash for continuing an antisemitic storyline that originated in Rowling’s books and movies.
For anyone still wanting to play the game, it will be out on February 10 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox.
