There is a lot of controversy surrounding the upcoming RPG, Hogwarts Legacy. It is a spinoff of the Harry Potter franchise. The game is set in a vast open world populated by many magical creatures. Some people are excited about the game, while others are concerned. Hogwarts Legacy was banned from some major gaming forums because of Rowling’s discriminative words against transgender people. Most fans say the game was delayed once, and this recent incident may decrease the upcoming game’s popularity.
But if you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series, you may wonder why you’re not able to discuss the upcoming title. After all, it’s based on the books by J.K. Rowling, and a lot of the characters in the game have played a part in the Harry Potter films.
What Happened Exactly?
Whether or not you’re a fan of the books and movies, or the game itself, it’s hard to deny that Rowling’s rhetoric on transgender people has been divisive. It’s also difficult to overlook the fact that she uses the money she makes from the Harry Potter franchise to push transphobic legislation.
Despite all of these negatives, some fans are still excited about the upcoming game. For example, Heartstopper actor Sebastian Croft recently apologized for voicing two playable characters in the game. While he did not make a statement stating that he supports the rights of transgender people, it’s likely that he does.
ResetEra Starts Banning of Hogwarts Legacy
The controversy came to a head when ResetEra, the world’s largest video gaming forum, banned discussions about the game. This is because J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans comments have been circulating. In particular, she has been criticized for using her platform as a bestselling author to push transphobic legislation. ResetEra has over 50,000 members and is one of the world’s most prominent video game forums. However, the company’s mod team decided to ban all talk about Hogwarts Legacy in response to the controversy.
Avalanche Software is developing Hogwarts Legacy. Troy Leavitt is the lead designer of the game. He has been a vocal supporter of the Gamergate movement. But even Leavitt’s pro-Gamergate statements weren’t enough for the ResetEra mod team to let Hogwarts Legacy be discussed. According to a FAQ, the company “worked closely with the J.K. Rowling team to create the game.”
However, in February of last year, the forum banned discussion of the game. That policy has now expanded to include promotional activity. Several players have expressed their disappointment with the decision. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that the game will run into financial trouble. As such, the boycotts aren’t likely to affect its sales.
