- Hogwarts Legacy is an upcoming RPG set in the Harry Potter universe.
- Series creator J.K. Rowling has caused a lot of controversy with her transphobic comments on Twitter.
- Buying the game will support Rowling much more than the developers, so not wanting to buy the game is completely justified.
Upcoming Harry Potter RPG Hogwarts Legacy finds itself mired in controversy, not because of the game itself, but because of series writer J. K. Rowling.
Rowling recently made some transphobic comments on her Twitter account that has many fans upset.
These fans are now want nothing to do with the game, knowing that their money would be going to a transphobe. The developers of Hogwarts Legacy have tried to defend themselves in their on-site FAQ:
Q: What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with the game? Is this a new story from J.K. Rowling?
A: J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game, however, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World.
This is not a new story from J.K. Rowling.
No matter how involved Rowling might be with the plot of the game, she’ll still be seeing money from sales, and that’s the whole point.
Buying Hogwarts Legacy Will Support J. K. Rowling
No matter how much Hogwarts Legacy tried to distance itself from Rowling, she will make money from the game. If people don’t want to support Rowling’s transphobic views, they shouldn’t buy the game.
It’s the same reason why people aren’t willing to buy books or see movies related to the HP universe anymore. Not only would it be a painful memory of Rowling’s hateful attitude, but it’s also giving money to a billionaire who thinks that transwomen are just men who want access to women-only spaces.
You see more details about Rowling’s transphobic comments in the video below.
You Can’t Ignore Your Morals
Many people find their love for the Harry Potter universe battling their morals. Twitter is filled with rationalizations for why it’s okay to buy the game still, even if you don’t like Rowling.
The number one defense is that your money would also be going to the developers. While that sounds great in theory, the truth is a bit muddier than that in the modern games industry. This is an industry where 300 people can have their jobs cut, even when their parent company is making record profits.
Saying that buying the game will support developers is like putting stock in the theory of trickle-down economics. The people on the bottom of the development team won’t be the ones seeing most of that money. It’ll go to higher-ups as bonuses.
If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t think that Rowling is transphobic, or you don’t care, then feel free to buy Hogwarts Legacy. However, if you do think she’s a transphobe and that upsets you, then you have to come to terms with the fact that buying the game is directly supporting her. I know that I won’t be buying the game for precisely that reason.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
