Hogwarts Legacy backlash: Why are players boycotting?

Hogwarts Legacy is set to release in February 2023, but the game is facing a lot of backlash with many people choosing to boycott the game after JK Rowling expressed her views on trans people.

There’s no doubt that Hogwarts Legacy is one of the most anticipated games of 2023, as it seems fans of the Wizarding World universe have been waiting for an open-world Harry Potter game for decades.

With many fans excited to play the title from Avalanche Software, the game is set to break sales records, but many are refusing to buy the game in an effort to boycott Hogwarts Legacy.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling has expressed some highly controversial views about the transgender community in recent years, causing an uproar with many people around the world left disheartened and angered by her views.

Why are people boycotting Hogwarts Legacy?

As JK Rowling wrote the original Harry Potter series, the author benefits through royalties when anything is done with the Wizarding World. This means that despite not being included in Hogwarts Legacy, the author will ultimately profit from every sale.

Ultimately, JK Rowling published essays and tweets speaking out against the trans community, expressing views that adhered to the TERF (Trans-Exclusive Radical Feminism) ideology. Her views express a belief that trans women are not women, and that supporting the transgender community hinders women’s rights.

Which is why Hogwarts Legacy is getting a lot of backlash at the moment. Those who are against her views are attempting to boycott the game to prevent JK Rowling from reaping the benefits, especially when the author uses her money and platform to advance an anti-trans agenda.

One move that drew a particular response was when Rowling provided a support and counseling service for victims of sexual violence, which shuns trans women as both survivors and employees.

Therefore, many people in the trans community and beyond believe that endorsing the sport is harmful. Transgender author Jesse Earl wrote a featured article gamespot Explains in detail why supporting the Hogwarts legacy is harmful to the trans community.

Jessie Earl believes that although JK Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game, “it is still difficult for any trans person to look at any element of the Harry Potter franchise and not see the harm being done by that woman”. who made it.

For Earl and others in the trans community, the game is “reminiscent of a woman who actively argued against the reality [transgender people’s] towards survival and champion loss [the transgender] community.”

JK Rowling responds to Earl, where the Potter creator accuses the author of “purethink” and suggests she should not only burn her books and movies, but “the local library, anything with owls on it and your pet dogs” ”

Rowling’s response was met with a wave of backlash from people in the transgender community and their allies, criticizing her comments and standing by Jesse’s rejection of the Hogwarts legacy.

The community against the support of Hogwarts Legacy has also drawn a response from one of the game’s voice actors, Sebastian Croft, who took to Twitter to explain his involvement in the game.

The actor says he was roped into the project “3 years ago”, long before JK Rowling was aware of the idea.

Sebastian’s response and apology to the Hogwarts Legacy backlash went over well with fans, however, as there are still some very passionate comments under the post asking if the actor was “publicly transphobic” before JK Rowling’s 3 Why are you still a part of the project despite Many years ago.”

In addition, the Hogwarts Legacy and Harry Potter franchises have been accused of antisemitism In its portrayal of goblins and with the game’s storyline revolving around crushing a goblin rebellion, many have concerns.

While a strong community is supporting a boycott of the game, there are many who truly believe that the controversy surrounding the title is driving more sales and attention.

Clearly, Hogwarts Legacy is getting a lot of backlash for its association with JK Rowling, but only time will tell how much of an impact this will have on its sales, reputation, and reviews.

If you’re interested in more Hogwarts Legacy, be sure to check out our pieces on whether the game will include multiplayer and every version and content of Hogwarts Legacy.

Image credit: Avalanche Software