There’s a tweet that makes the rounds every so often that says, “Getting queerbaited by Marvel is like losing at chess to a dog.” It’s a reference to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s history of only hinting at queer characters and the idea that we should know better than to expect more by now. It also describes my feelings toward expecting trans representation in blockbuster games. Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s approach to trans characters feels like a step forward, but the mere fact that it does highlights just how low the bar is.
The Veilguard’s options for playing the protagonist, Rook, as a trans character begin at the creation screen. There are no “male” or “female” body types. Regardless of your character’s appearance, you choose their gender identity and pronouns separately, though I haven’t seen anywhere in the game where your choice of gender identity actually comes into play. Otherwise, the only nod to trans identity is the ability to add top surgery scars to your character.
