Restore Male and Female in World of Warcraft and WoW Forever
The Issue
For nearly two decades, World of Warcraft allowed players to select Male or Female when creating their characters. These familiar choices were part of Azeroth's original design when the game launched in 2004.
In 2022, Blizzard Entertainment replaced Male and Female with the impersonal labels Body 1 and Body 2.
The character models remained substantially the same. What disappeared was the explicit recognition of Male and Female.
Now, with the arrival of WoW Forever, Blizzard has an opportunity to restore a meaningful choice that many longtime players believe should never have been removed.
Inclusion Should Mean More Choices, Not Fewer
We are not asking Blizzard to exclude transgender or nonbinary players, remove existing customization features, or restrict anyone's freedom to role-play.
We are asking Blizzard to restore Male and Female as explicit character-creation choices.
There is already a precedent:
In 2016, Electronic Arts and Maxis worked with LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD to expand gender customization in The Sims 4. They opened hundreds of previously restricted customization options while retaining Male and Female.
If The Sims 4 could expand inclusion without eliminating Male and Female, why can't World of Warcraft?
Blizzard, Respect Your Players
For more than twenty years, millions of players have built friendships, communities, and cherished memories in Azeroth. Their attachment to this virtual world deserves consideration.
We call upon Blizzard Entertainment and Microsoft Gaming to:
Restore Male and Female as explicit, selectable character-creation options in World of Warcraft and WoW Forever while preserving existing customization freedoms for everyone.
This is a reasonable request that respects both player choice and Azeroth's creative heritage.
Blizzard, give us back the choice.
If you agree, sign this petition and share it with fellow World of Warcraft players.
Organized by WolfsheadOnline
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The Issue
For nearly two decades, World of Warcraft allowed players to select Male or Female when creating their characters. These familiar choices were part of Azeroth's original design when the game launched in 2004.
In 2022, Blizzard Entertainment replaced Male and Female with the impersonal labels Body 1 and Body 2.
The character models remained substantially the same. What disappeared was the explicit recognition of Male and Female.
Now, with the arrival of WoW Forever, Blizzard has an opportunity to restore a meaningful choice that many longtime players believe should never have been removed.
Inclusion Should Mean More Choices, Not Fewer
We are not asking Blizzard to exclude transgender or nonbinary players, remove existing customization features, or restrict anyone's freedom to role-play.
We are asking Blizzard to restore Male and Female as explicit character-creation choices.
There is already a precedent:
In 2016, Electronic Arts and Maxis worked with LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD to expand gender customization in The Sims 4. They opened hundreds of previously restricted customization options while retaining Male and Female.
If The Sims 4 could expand inclusion without eliminating Male and Female, why can't World of Warcraft?
Blizzard, Respect Your Players
For more than twenty years, millions of players have built friendships, communities, and cherished memories in Azeroth. Their attachment to this virtual world deserves consideration.
We call upon Blizzard Entertainment and Microsoft Gaming to:
Restore Male and Female as explicit, selectable character-creation options in World of Warcraft and WoW Forever while preserving existing customization freedoms for everyone.
This is a reasonable request that respects both player choice and Azeroth's creative heritage.
Blizzard, give us back the choice.
If you agree, sign this petition and share it with fellow World of Warcraft players.
Organized by WolfsheadOnline
Petition Updates
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Petition created on November 4, 2026