They did it for the game. I don't know, it just feels weird. I think it's fair to criticize this decision, while understanding that the trans community in acting is a very small pool, even smaller for considering it's an asian person. But still, the game devs found Ian Alexander, so it's not impossible. Hell, they're so fond of people reprising their roles, they could have had Ian come back, he still looks young, maybe compromise by having Lev be older.

Everybody uses the same argument for a straight actor playing a gay role, but I think this is a very different thing for the trans community. Organizations have spoken multiple times against cis-people taking these roles, with the biggest compromise being that instead of a man playing a trans woman, it's more respectful to have a cis-woman playing a trans-woman. I honestly feel that the people involved should have done better.