The new expansion Dawntrail from Final Fantasy XIV launched last week with mixed feedback on Steam. A frequently mentioned reason is the new main character Wuk Lamat, who is criticized for her English voice acting.
Caution, spoilers: The following mentions story details that pertain to the end of the patch series (6.5 and 6.55) of the expansion Endwalker as well as the beginning of Dawntrail. You have been warned.
Who is Wuk Lamat? Wuk Lamat is a female Hrothgar, meaning she is a tall lioness. She is the adopted daughter of the current ruler of Tural, the so-called new world. Her father is slowly looking to pass the scepter to the next generation, and Wuk Lamat is one of the four contenders for the throne.
Why is she the new main character
? Until the end of the Endwalker expansion, the player character was always in the spotlight. Now, however, players take on the role of the wise and powerful mentor for Wuk Lamat. You advise and protect her – from her opponents, but sometimes also from her own naivety.
You can see how Wuk Lamat behaves in the story trailer for Dawntrail:
Misgendering and Calls for Boycotts – English Voice in the Crossfire
Who voices Wuk Lamat? The English voice of Wuk Lamat is Sena Bryer. The voice actress based in Los Angeles has lent her voice to several game characters, including Justicia in Need for Speed: Unbound.
She announced her work on Final Fantasy XIV earlier this year via X.com:
I am so honored to be the voice of Wuk Lamat in FINAL FANTASY XIV! I can’t thank [Square Enix, Side Global, and Atlas Talent] enough for the dream role of my life! See you in Tural!
What are people bothered by? The crux for a small but vocal part of the platform X.com is that Sena Bryer is a transgender woman.
Specifically at the launch of the early access for Dawntrail, there were many posts referring to Wuk Lamat as Woke Lamat
. Many comments are transphobic and malicious. Square Enix, the developer and publisher, is also accused of becoming woke
.
The voice actress is also repeatedly referred to by incorrect pronouns. Furthermore, players are called to use different voice acting to avoid hearing the voice of a transgender person.
A Female Naruto
Divides Players
Is there further criticism of the voice acting? There is general criticism of the voice acting. In a reddit thread, Divinedragn4 comments that Wuk Lamat’s voice lacks any hint of anger or frustration. Her voice simply always has the same tone.
User atheistium agrees in a different reddit post. The voice actress apparently did not receive good feedback from her voice director.
Why is Wuk Lamat still debated? Wuk Lamat is extremely present in Dawntrail. How players perceive her as a character strongly influences how they generally view the story of the new expansion. This has a varied impact on the reviews for Dawntrail on Steam.
When meeting Wuk Lamat, she is an extremely extroverted person. She often takes on too much, plays the strong one, and simultaneously displays a high degree of naivety. Sometimes she resembles a female version of the character Naruto from the eponymous anime series or manga.
In Dawntrail, you also find out that she has never left the capital since her adoption as a baby. The land she is meant to govern, she does not really know. Essentially, Wuk Lamat is an absolute underdog with a lot of heart.
These character traits combined with the newly defined role of the player character are partly why she is so hotly debated.
A Strengthened Backbone for Wuk Lamat
How does the rest of the community feel about Wuk Lamat? It is nice to see that the largest part of the community absolutely stands behind Sena Bryer and Wuk Lamat. Currently searching for Woke Lamat
on X, you will be greeted by a flood of ironic, sarcastic, and Wuk Lamat-loving posts:
Yes, I want XIV to be more woke or whatever, I want to see Wuk Lamat finally flirting with hot girls
– @pixieberrytea via XSo are we calling her Woke Lamat before they ironically say it to make fun of her, or are we calling her Woke Lamat after they chose that nickname themselves to also make fun of her?
– @pasokonGal via X
Most players are pushing back against the transphobic voices. Many comment as linked above on X.com. But also in Steam reviews, Wuk Lamat and her voice actress receive support.
After all, Wuk Lamat is not the only new character that players have grown fond of. To the surprise of many, there is a very special, two-headed fan-favorite: Players in Final Fantasy XIV are thirsting for a new Dawntrail character, thinking inappropriate thoughts.
