Epic Games took a big step and added DC’s Dreamer as the first Fortnite transgender character into the game with this year’s Rainbow Royale event.
The enormously popular video game’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride event, Fortnite’s Rainbow Royale, returns in September, bringing with it a slew of new queer and trans content for gamers. Last year’s event included new cosmetics, emotes, and sprays, and according to photographs released on Tuesday, this year’s event may feature the game’s first canonically trans character, Dreamer, who is part of the MMORPG’s continuing relationship with the DC Extended Universe.
DC’s Dreamer will be the first Fortnite transgender character
Dreamer, sometimes known as Nia Nal, is a unique superhero who was developed for television before making the transition to comics. Dreamer was the first trans superhero on television, played by trans actor and activist Nicole Maines on The CW’s Supergirl. Early Tuesday morning, Fortnite leaker HYPEX shared images of the game’s new Pride gear.
New Emotes (& Jiggle Jiggle TikTok Dance) pic.twitter.com/zGHOLE4c7A
— HYPEX (@HYPEX) August 30, 2022
In addition to Dreamer, the update adds a slew of rainbow-themed objects to the game, including a big rainbow mallet nicknamed the “Kaleido-crusher,” lobby music called “Say It Proud,” and the ability to have their avatars dip ballroom-style. HYPEX even posted a video of Dreamer performing some of the new movements in the game, including the dip.
Last but not least, gamers may board a Rainbow Battle Bus, a screenshot of which Fortnite news creator iFireMonkey tweeted. It has rainbows as well as white, pink, and blue stripes – not exactly the sequence of the trans flag, but the spirit is there. Rainbow Royale is due to launch in September, but the game is already getting a head start with a spectacular upgrade to its virtual sky, which is filled with rainbow colors reminiscent of the Northern Lights.
Here is an image of the Rainbow Royale Battle Bus VIA @Luwwani pic.twitter.com/6Sj7e9488v
— iFireMonkey (@iFireMonkey) August 30, 2022
However, even with all of this fantastic new LGBTQ+-themed material, trans employees at Epic Games are being subjected to a toxic work atmosphere. According to gaming news source The Gamer, Gregor, a pseudonymous former employee of the firm, claimed earlier this year that their contract was terminated for voicing concerns about how trans workers are handled. Gregor, who uses he/they pronouns, stated that trans employees were frequently misgendered in meetings, with Epic Games refusing to offer the option for employees to insert pronouns beside their names in Slack and Zoom.
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