New Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy faces boycott in recent backlash against JK Rowling’s views on transgender issues, but author compares it to ‘book burning’
- Hogwarts Legacy’s release on PS5 and XBox One reignites culture wars
- Trans rights activists call for boycott over author JK Rowling’s views
- When the game goes on sale, it is estimated to be one of the blockbuster games of the year.
The culture wars have flared up once again with the imminent release of the Harry Potter-themed Hogwarts’ Legacy game.
Trans rights activists openly demanded a boycott of the game, which will be available online. PS5 and XBox One consoles for being mad at the author J.K. Rowling‘s stance on trans issues.
The game, which went on sale on February 10, seems to be one of the blockbuster games of the year. Times reports.
Backlog for the game’s release has been fueled by rumors of a boycott, as well as a ban on discussion of it on a leading forum and even firing an employee.
Trans rights activists have openly demanded that Hogwarts Legeacy be boycotted because they insulted writer JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
Hogwarts Legacy is predicted to be one of the blockbuster movies of the year when it goes on sale on February 10.
Warner Bros Games is said to have made obvious moves to make the game look inclusive, including allowing players to create transgender wizards and witches.
Game director Alan Tew told IGN, “We know there’s a diverse audience. For us, it’s to ensure that viewers who have always dreamed of owning this game have the opportunity to feel welcome again.”
Although JK Rowling was not directly involved in the game’s creation, some of her team cooperated.
Jessie Earl, a 30-year-old trans YouTuber with more than 200,000 subscribers, was accused of “naive thinking” by Rowling when she tweeted that “supporting something like Hogwarts Legacy is harmful.”
The author also likened his comment to burning a book.
Warner Bros Games is said to have made obvious moves to make the game look inclusive, including allowing players to create transgender wizards and witches.
Elsewhere, US actor Will Overgard also called for a boycott in a video that garnered two million views, insisting that “by supporting the title you’re aligning yourself with some really disgusting transphobic values.”
The voice cast of the game was also the subject of reactions. Sebastian Croft, who previously starred in Netflix’s LGBT series Heartstopper, had to announce his involvement after criticism from fans.
He said: “More than three years ago, when Harry Potter was the magical world I grew up in, I took part in this project.
This was long before JK Rowling realized her views. I wholeheartedly believe that trans women are women and trans men are men.’
Gaming forum ResetEra has significantly banned discussion of the Hogwarts Legacy, while accusing Rowling of “enforcing transphobic legislation.”
Review site Games Radar has also started posting a statement below articles about the Hogwarts Legacy: ‘Admits publicly harmful views of transgender people’s rights.’
Advert
