With the upcoming release of the Harry Potter-themed game Hogwarts’ Legacy, the culture wars have reignited.
Trans rights activists have publicly called for a boycott of the game, which will be available on the PS5 and XBox One consoles, as they oppose author JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
When it launches on February 10, the game is expected to be one of the blockbusters of the year. The Times reports.
The build-up to the game’s release was dominated by rumors of a boycott, as well as being banned from discussing it on a prominent forum and even firing an employee.
Trans rights activists have publicly called for a boycott of Hogwarts Legeacy over author JK Rowling’s stance on trans issues.
Hogwarts Legacy will be one of the blockbusters of the year when it launches on February 10th.
Warner Bros Games is said to have made overt moves to make the game seem inclusive, including allowing players to create trans wizards and witches.
Game director Alan Tew told IGN, “We know it’s a diverse audience. For us, it’s about making sure that the audience that’s always wanted to play this game has the opportunity to feel welcome again.”
Although the game’s authors insist that JK Rowling was not directly involved in the game’s creation, some of her team did collaborate.
Trans YouTuber Jessie Earl, 30, who has more than 200,000 subscribers, was accused of “pure thinking” by Rowling, tweeting that “any support for something like Hogwarts Legacy is harmful”.
The writer compared his comment to burning a book.
Warner Bros Games is said to have made overt moves to make the game seem inclusive, including allowing players to create trans wizards and witches.
Elsewhere, US player Will Overgard also called for a boycott in a video that has racked up two million views, insisting that “by supporting the title you’re actually conforming to some disgusting transphobic values”.
The playback of the game has also received backlash. Sebastian Croft, who previously starred in Netflix’s LGBT series Heartstopper, was forced to explain his role after criticism from fans.
He said: “I was involved in this project over three years ago, when Harry Potter was the magical world I grew up in.
“This was long before I was aware of JK Rowling’s ideas. I wholeheartedly believe that a trans woman is a woman, and a trans man is a man.”
Gaming forum ResetEra specifically banned discussion of Hogwarts Legacy, while also accusing Rowling of “pushing transphobic legislation.”
Review site Games Radar also began publishing a statement under articles about Hogwarts Legacy: “… acknowledging his publicly stated harmful views on transgender rights.”