Games That Added Trans Options and Saw Immediate Player Backlash

As a gamer, I’ve definitely noticed more games trying to be inclusive lately – things like letting you choose your pronouns or including transgender characters. It’s cool to see more representation, honestly. But it hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Some of these updates have caused major drama within the gaming community, and developers often get caught in the crossfire of heated debates about whether or not games should be tackling these social issues. I’ve put together a list of 15 games that really show how complicated it can be to balance inclusivity with what different players around the world want.

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ (2023)

Warner Bros. Games and Avalanche Software recently added a transgender character, Sirona Ryan, to the ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ game, which caused a stir among some players. These players criticized the character’s inclusion, seeing it as an unnecessary political move. The developers included Sirona Ryan to offer representation within the game, even though the franchise creator has faced ongoing controversy. While some players tried to boycott the game or left negative reviews online, ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ still sold very well.

‘Starfield’ (2023)

When Bethesda Softworks let players choose their pronouns during character creation in ‘Starfield’, it sparked a debate. Some players felt this feature clashed with the game’s futuristic, space exploration theme and broke their sense of immersion, sharing their concerns in videos online. The developers explained that offering pronoun options is now common in role-playing games and was intended to make the game welcoming to everyone. This disagreement became a significant topic of discussion on social media and gaming communities throughout the game’s launch month.

‘The Sims 4’ (2014)

As a longtime Sims fan, I was really excited to see the latest update! Maxis and EA added things like chest binders and top surgery scars to the character creator, which is a huge step forward for representation. It’s awesome that they’re letting players express themselves more authentically. While a lot of us celebrated it, there was some pushback online – some players felt these options weren’t suitable for a game like The Sims. The developers explained they wanted to better reflect the diversity of their player base, and honestly, I think that’s a great goal. It’s cool to see the game continue to evolve and become more inclusive, building on a history of trying to represent different identities.

‘The Last of Us Part II’ (2020)

The game featured Lev, a transgender character escaping a religious group that rejected who he was. Before the game was even released, his story sparked strong negative reactions and a campaign to lower its review scores. Critics argued the story spent too much time on social issues and not enough on the game’s main focus: survival. However, despite this criticism, the game won many awards for its story and acting. The creators defended including Lev, saying he was an important part of creating a realistic and varied game world.

‘Cyberpunk 2077’ (2020)

Cyberpunk 2077’s character creation system allowed players to choose a voice and body type independently and included options for gender non-conforming characters. Although the game was promoted as being about freedom and customization, this feature sparked debate. Some players felt the implementation lacked depth, while others considered the inclusion of trans representation to be unwanted political messaging. The discussion was complicated further by in-game advertising that some found insensitive. This controversy ultimately drew attention away from the game’s initial technical problems, like performance and stability issues.

‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard’ (2024)

When players started ‘Dragon Age: The Veilguard,’ they could choose their character’s gender identity and pronouns. This sparked immediate backlash from some online groups who claimed the developers were focusing more on social issues than on typical fantasy stories. These critics used social media to protest the game’s inclusive options. The developers countered that exploring different viewpoints and personal identity has always been a key part of the ‘Dragon Age’ series. This debate became a major topic of conversation surrounding the game when it was released.

‘Overwatch 2’ (2022)

Blizzard recently added a new character to ‘Overwatch 2’ named Venture, who is nonbinary and fights using a drill. This sparked debate among players, with some expressing disappointment that the game was focusing on gender identity. Concerns were voiced on forums and social media about whether the character’s identity was necessary. Blizzard responded by highlighting their commitment to having a diverse group of heroes with varied backgrounds. Venture’s introduction is a notable moment in the game’s ongoing story and its efforts to include a wider range of representation.

‘Apex Legends’ (2019)

In the latest season of ‘Apex Legends’, the game added a new playable character named Catalyst, who is a transgender woman. While many players enjoyed her unique abilities and the game’s growing diversity, some reacted negatively online, claiming the game was prioritizing representation over gameplay. Despite this criticism, ‘Apex Legends’ continued to gain players, and the developers reaffirmed their dedication to creating an inclusive world within the game.

‘Baldur’s Gate: Siege of Dragonspear’ (2016)

When Beamdog expanded the classic role-playing game ‘Baldur’s Gate’, they included Mizhena, a transgender cleric. Her inclusion, and a short conversation about her transition, quickly triggered a strong negative reaction online. Players left negative reviews, arguing the writing felt unnatural or didn’t fit the game’s world. Facing this pressure, the developers adjusted some of her dialogue, but kept the character in the game. This event is now frequently discussed as a key moment in the ongoing conversation about diversity and representation in fantasy gaming.

‘Dead by Daylight’ (2016)

Dead by Daylight recently added pride-themed items and revealed details about some characters, which sparked a lot of negative reactions and harassment online. Some players felt these changes didn’t fit the game’s scary atmosphere. The developers responded by improving their moderation tools and continuing to create inclusive content. This has made Dead by Daylight a well-known example of how game developers can address ongoing player feedback on important social issues.

‘Spider-Man 2’ (2023)

The creators of the game, Insomniac Games and Sony, added pride flags and storylines with diverse characters to their virtual version of New York City. This led to some online backlash, with players asking for these elements – which they considered political statements – to be removed. One particular storyline, about a student project, also drew criticism from those who felt it didn’t fit the game’s superhero theme. However, the developers chose not to censor the content and kept it in the game worldwide. Despite some online disagreements, the game proved to be very successful.

‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ (2017)

In the game ‘Mass Effect Andromeda’, a character named Hainly Abram came out as transgender during a conversation with the player. This moment sparked controversy. Some players felt the writing was weak, while others objected to the inclusion of a transgender character in that game world. The negative response was strong enough that the developers revised the game, changing how the character shares her identity. Many critics felt the original dialogue sounded forced and overly focused on just one aspect of her personality. This situation demonstrated the difficulties game developers face when trying to thoughtfully include important identity issues in large, complex role-playing games.

‘Guilty Gear Strive’ (2021)

Arc System Works recently clarified that the character Bridget identifies as a transgender woman. This announcement sparked a significant debate among fans of the ‘Guilty Gear Strive’ fighting game, with some believing it altered her established backstory. Discussions online focused on the accuracy of the translation and the developers’ intentions. The series creator ultimately confirmed Bridget’s identity to address the speculation, establishing her as an important symbol of inclusivity and representation in the fighting game community.

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

Mojang Studios and Microsoft recently updated the standard character designs in ‘Minecraft’ to offer more diversity and made the game’s backstory less focused on specific genders. While the developers said these changes were important for making all players feel welcome, some fans reacted negatively. Many felt the updates weren’t needed for a game that’s all about creative freedom and that the original look was better. Despite these disagreements, ‘Minecraft’ remains incredibly popular and one of the best-selling games of all time.

‘Baldur’s Gate 3’ (2023)

In ‘Baldur’s Gate 3’, Larian Studios allowed players to create nonbinary characters and featured a transgender character named Nocturne. This level of customization sparked negative reviews from some groups who argued that these inclusive elements detracted from the traditional Dungeons & Dragons gameplay. Despite this online backlash, the game was widely praised by critics and became a huge commercial success. Larian Studios consistently voiced their commitment to diverse stories and player freedom after the game’s release.

Share your perspective on the implementation of gender identity options in the comments.

2026-01-11 20:46