Hogwarts Legacy has clearly cast a spell on gaming audiences within its very early days, but a great debate and shroud of controversy still encompasses it. The sole trans character was revealed just as the game launched, and given a laughably bad name which never should’ve made it to publishing.
The whole experience and discourse around Hogwarts Legacy has become an unfortunate battleground for queer people in gaming. J.K. Rowling’s transphobic shadow is still very much surrounding the game, but there is hope in the form of excellent games with excellent portrayal of trans people.
Look no further than the fantastical MMORPG The Elder Scrolls Online, which gave gaming a trailblazing trans character who remains an absolute fan favorite — Alchemy.
Introduced in the 2017 expansion Summerset, Alchemy’s quest “Manor of Masques” sees the player character stumble upon a traveling performance group run by the eccentric Alchemy. Revealed later on to be a trans woman, the entire quest builds out a character who feels real in a fantastical environment.
Alchemy’s quest features plenty of dialogue which explains the broad strokes of transitioning in the world of Tamriel, as well as the same stigmas existing in a very similar way as our real world. Alchemy cut off her sister when she transitioned, and the quest deals with her re-associating with her long-lost sister.
“I’ve always felt like I was meant to be someone else. Becoming Alchemy wasn’t without its difficulties, of course. But I’m happier now than I’ve ever been.”
Alchemy (Summerset chapter)
Alchemy’s character is fun, over-the-top, and based in the aesthetics of life instead of the morals. There’s an appealing layer to being around her, and she comes back in the main storyline as an ally to the player character.
There’s no negative trans stereotypes used with Alchemy. She isn’t a Buffalo Bill. She isn’t a predator. She isn’t weak. She’s not shown as being comedic because she’s trans. She’s Alchemy, strong in conviction, a believer in second chances, and also not a victim nor a damsel in distress.
Whenever I replay the Summerset expansion, I make sure to really get the most out of the quest each time. The best stories in gaming make you want to replay them, and it’s a credit to Zenimax Online Studios they forged a story this touching – and it’s only a side-quest.
Hogwarts Legacy introduced the unfortunately named Sirona Ryan, who feels like nothing more than an attempt to garner back support from a community who have no interest in it, whereas The Elder Scrolls introduced one and gained support and an award for its own.
There are levels to this, and if you want to support queer stories in a fantasy setting, go to Tamriel and The Elder Scrolls Online.