League of Legends has unveiled its newest champion known as Neeko, and she’s definitely a change of pace for the game.
Neeko is a colourful and squirrel-like character who’s actually a chameleon. The shapeshifting Neeko is also the latest LGBTQ addition to the game. Check out her introduction trailer below.
The internet has a lot to say on the topic, with the LGBTQ community loving the inclusion of Neeko.
So people are angry that new LoL champion ‘Neeko’ is LGBTQ because according to them the only reason she has been made is to be LGBTQ and pander.
Seriously, what? I didn’t even know she was LGBTQ until these guys started complaining about it.
Nothing in her gameplay shows it
— Tink (@TinkrTiger) November 21, 2018
Over on Reddit, it’s been confirmed that Neeko has a crush on Nidalee, in a post that states: “For those of you who are like ‘why does this matter why are you forcing it in our face’, it’s just nice to have some LBGT representation in-game, and I’d hardly say it’s forced in your face. It also shows how sexuality can shape personality – re-watch her Special Interactions knowing this, and it suddenly makes a lot more sense.”
However, not everyone is thrilled, with some people calling out Riot Games for looking for a quick way to get League of Legends back into the headlines…
On Twitter, one user writes: “There are exclusive lines with exclusive characters and its not influenced by outside matters like neeko is with LGBTQ its a marketing strategy and it shouldnt be part of the game.”
Because there are exclusive lines with exclusive characters and its not influenced by outside matters like neeko is with LGBTQ its a marketing strategy and it shouldnt be part of the game
— Matei (@danesmatei) November 21, 2018
ppl going nuts over neeko bein the first officially gay champ in league… shouldn’t it be more of a concern that after all the characters they’ve made it riot only releases a character that will headline like that when their playerbase is on a steady decline?
— ↗ dooood lmao (@fuck280chars) November 21, 2018
The LGBTQ community is definitely underrepresented in the world of gaming – but do you think Riot Games has added Neeko for the right reasons?