Harry Potter fans have long been looking forward to the new video game, Hogwarts Legacy, inspired by the book series. But now there are first boycott calls from the trans community – because of the book author J. K. Rowling.
Scene from the new video game “Hogwarts Legacy”
Video game fans, especially those who grew up reading the Harry Potter book series, have long been looking forward to February 10th, the day of the release of the action role-playing game Hogwarts Legacy. In it, players find themselves in the wizarding world of the late 19th century, where they can attend wizarding school, ride broomsticks, prepare magical potions, and recite spells and curses. It's the latest coup in the Wizarding World, the franchise empire built around J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series.
However, a heated debate has developed around the release of the game. On the one hand, the game is closely linked to J.K. Rowling, who has caused a stir in recent years with her negative statements about transgender gender. In 2018, Rowling “liked” a tweet that reduced trans women to “men in drag.” At the time, her team dismissed it as a slip-up, a typical mishap of a “middle-aged” person. Now, Rowling has gone on a veritable anti-transgender campaign, venturing out in tweets, blog posts, and her non-Harry Potter novels. Ironically, Rowling, known as a philanthropist, doesn't let trans women into a women's shelter she founded. Most recently, Rowling has lashed out at Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, for backing a Self-Determination Bill that would make it easier for trans people to change their gender.
The open-world role-playing game “Hogwarts Legacy” promises a lot of variety
Heated debate on the web
Against this background, calls for a boycott of “Hogwarts Legacy” on social media were not long in coming. Rowling himself accused trans woman and gamer Jessie Earl, who supports the boycott, of “purity thinking” and compared the boycott call to book burnings. The debate was so fierce that one gaming forum even banned threads on the topic altogether.
But there are also gamers, including from the trans community itself, who question the usefulness of such a boycott and believe that “ethical consumption” is impossible within global capitalism anyway. They recommend getting the game used or even pirated. Others advocate separating the creator from the work, arguing that the “Harry Potter Wizarding World” is so important to the childhood of so many people that its significance far exceeds the author's opinion.
Author with a controversial stance: J.K. Rowling
Can you separate the work and the author?
But it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate the publicly divided opinion of this creator of a fantasy world from the context of the very real threat to an already marginalized group. More and more laws are being introduced in some US states aimed at restricting the rights of trans people. And in Europe recently, open hatred of the UK community has led to rifts between England and the more progressive Scotland. Transwomen with a visible migration background are particularly affected by transphobic, sometimes even fatal, violence.
Game developer Portkey has pointed out that although Hogwarts Legacy is an officially licensed game, J.K. Rowling was not involved. Nevertheless, as the owner of the copyright, she will receive royalties. The game also introduces Sirona Ryan, the Wizarding World's first transgender character. Players also have the option to create their own transgender characters.
Anti-Semitic stereotypes?
Meanwhile, it's no longer just Rowling's anti-transgender attitude that's the focus of the game's debate. There is also criticism of her books, especially the depiction of the goblins. They would serve anti-Semitic clichés, is the accusation. They would be portrayed as a secret society of hooked bankers. One of the tasks in the game is to put down a goblin rebellion. These demand more rights, including the use of their magical abilities.
The Portkey company itself has meanwhile come under fire because Troy Leavitt, one of its senior producers, runs a YouTube channel on which he posts his anti-feminist, misogynous and right-wing populist  ;Shares views. Leavitt subsequently resigned.
Any one or all of these factors could make some gamers decide against purchasing Hogwarts Legacy. But shortly before the game is released, it is clear that the boycott calls have failed: “Hogwarts Legacy” is currently the best-selling game on numerous platforms – although it has not yet been released. The “Harry Potter Wizarding World” remains extremely successful and many people who grew up with it remain emotionally connected to it. Even if they belong to marginalized groups suffering from J.K. Rowling's attacks.
Article adapted from English.