Since before the official announcement, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding key aspects of Hogwarts Legacy, the Harry Potter role-playing game. In particular, how the game will handle character creation.
It may sound odd that a character making character would be the center of so much attention, but there are good reasons for that. In the Harry Potter series, each character goes through the process of being sorted into a home, instantly reflecting something within themselves. So for Hogwarts Legacya role-playing game where you can embody your wizarding fantasy, it’s important that players be able to create and live in a character that reflects how they intend to play.
One reason for the attention is because of the claims of the book’s author, JK Rowling
Another reason for attention is because of the claims of the book’s author, JK Rowling. On Twitter and in essays, the writer has taken a stand against transgender rights, for example, against allowing transgender women to use women’s bathrooms, writing. in an essay (opens in a new tab) that “When you open the door of the bathroom and the dressing room to any man who believes or feels like a woman … then you open the door to any and all men who want to come in.”
The developer of Hogwarts Legacy confirmed in FAQ of the game (opens in a new tab) that “JK Rowling was not involved in the making of the game” but did not distance himself from the writer either, going on to say that “as the creator of the wizarding world and one of the greatest storytellers world, her prodigious writing skills are the basis of all projects in the Wizarding World. [W]e has worked closely with her team on all aspects of the game to ensure it remains in line with the magical experiences fans have come to expect. “
Here’s why, when tonight’s Hogwarts Legacy stream opens with a developer saying they’ll be featuring the game’s character creator, it’s exciting: the game will handle gender and gender calculated how? Is it a reflection of JK Rowling’s stated beliefs?
The majority of Hogwarts Legacy character creators are as you would expect. You can choose from preset character builds, change facial features, skin and hair color, hairstyle, and even choose a pair of glasses for your character. The full round rim is appealing for its Harry Potter-like quality, but I myself might have to go with the half-moon, half-moon frames.
In the last panel of the character builder you can choose between ‘Voice One’ and ‘Voice Two’, with a more masculine voice and a more feminine voice, then, after making your selection, you can change change the pitch of your selection, too.
The final option is that you will be put into the witch or wizard’s bedroom in your home’s dormitory. There is no reference to gender during creation. You seem to have complete freedom to create a male character, look feminine, have a bed in both dorms, without prejudice from the game’s engines.
After a lot of speculation about how the Avalanche Studios developers will handle this sensitive topic, it seems the team has threaded the needle very well, allowing players to create avatars that represent and reflect the characters they want to play. Hopefully, this same sensibility runs through the entire game with how you address other characters and how they address you.
For Harry Potter fans who have found their relationship with the books challenged by J.K. Rowling’s claims, this is an important step towards making the Hogwarts Legacy a space for fun. play for them.
