People are flocking to social media to urge Harry Potter fans not to buy Hogwarts Legacy because of JK Rowling’s comments on trans issues.
Harry Potter fans have been eagerly awaiting the release of video game Hogwarts Legacy after it was first announced in September 2020. Catch a sneak peek into the game here:
However, with just 11 days until its launch, the game has continued to face backlash.
The ‘Goblin Rebellion’ plot which will allow players to take control and battle an ‘oppressed race who are fighting against their own slavery’ has faced criticism, with some gamers arguing the goblins are based on antisemitic stereotypes.
The game has also been condemned by trans activists – some even calling for a boycott – as a result of Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s views on gender identity.
Trans activists have flooded to Twitter in opposition to the upcoming release.
One wrote: “Talking about the Hogwarts Legacy boycott – are there more important things in life? yes. Should you boycott it because it’s a very easy – literally bare minimum – way to show solidarity with trans people? also yes.”
“Not getting Hogwarts Legacy cause JK Rowling is a terf (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) is a very valid reason,” a second said.
A third commented: “If you play Hogwarts Legacy you’re openly saying, ‘I’m okay with giving money to a TERF for a cheap nostalgia pop’ and it’s an ugly look.”
However, some gamers are still set on buying Hogwarts Legacy.
“The Hogwarts Legacy boycott is stupid, sets up an impossibly high standard, and convinces people who play it that they’re also transphobic. They’re not. You don’t share the ideology of people just because you by their products, it’s bulls***t,” one argued.
A second added: “What people don’t understand is, boycotting Hogwarts Legacy does NOTHING to J.K Rowling. The only people negatively affected by a boycott, are the game devs who worked their butts off to deliver as good a game as they could produce.”
However, another Twitter user urged: “‘Hogwarts Legacy has trans inclusivity.’ It has a binary gender choice, they just call it, ‘do you want to stay in the witch or wizard’s dorm’ and while body type and voice isn’t locked to either, pronouns and language in general is. Call of Duty has more trans inclusivity.”
They continued: “‘JKR isn’t involved in the game though.’ She doesn’t have to be directly involved because it’s literally based on her work and the influence she has had on said work. This includes it’s poor takes on systemic injustices and minorities.”
A final user argued: “Trans people aren’t physically stopping anyone from playing Hogwarts Legacy – but if you do play we probably aren’t gonna be mates with you anymore. The impetus is on you, not us. It’s your choice to make.”
In June 2020, JK Rowling came under fire for a series of controversial tweets mocking a headline about ‘people who menstruate,’ resulting in her being accused by many of being transphobic.
The author’s tweets continued in 2021 and the likes of Harry Potter stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint responded by speaking out in support of the trans community.
After continuing to share her views on gender identity, Rowling didn’t attend the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Legacy is due to release on PlayStation, Xbox and PC on 10 February 2023, while a Nintendo Switch version is coming on 25 July.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers
This news is republished from another source. You can check the original article here
Be the first to comment