By Phebe Lyne
In 2023, Avalanche Studios released a game that added onto the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The game, “Hogwarts Legacy,” your character explores the world and interacts with quests, spells, and other characters. While the game has had its share of hype and popularity, the new game also has its share of controversy. Grab your wands and brooms, and let’s dive into it.
For those who are not familiar with the works of J.K. Rowling, she is the author of the widely loved “Harry Potter” series. Over the years, she has posted many transphobic tweets, which caused her to lose her entire fandom.
While she has stopped writing books, the world of “Harry Potter” has continued to expand, with the live-action movies and the “Fantastic Beasts” franchise. The World of Harry Potter has also expanded in the video game world, with PS2 versions of the movies, and with the Original Hogwarts Mystery mobile game. Hogwarts Legacy is the newest addition to the video game collection.
When the game was released, there was a lot of excitement among fans. Many players were amazed with the ability to change whether you’re a witch or a wizard regardless of appearance. The game also features many iconic spells, such as Wengardium Leviosa, and the famous Killing Curse: Avada Kedavra. But along with the hype, there came the controversy.
Many people posted about the game’s release, making claims that if you buy and play the game, you are transphobic. In recent events, there was even a website created to cancel any participant who streams the game on the platform Twitch. While this website has been shut down, there are still individuals attempting to cancel those who purchase and play “Hogwarts Legacy.” Another controversial factor is that the main storyline requires the character to stop a goblin slave rebellion. Unsurprisingly, this feature left many fans uneasy.
Despite the backlash, there are still people who ignore the haters and still play the game just to have fun and explore Hogwarts and the many other locations that come with the game. I personally have not played the game, but I have watched some gameplay and enjoyed the diversity that is included. One example being the barkeep you meet in Hogsmeade (a popular village in the Harry Potter world). This character is a trans woman who goes by the name Sirona Willams. The game even includes a blind character who uses his wand to navigate the school.
In my personal opinion, if you want to play the game, play it! However, I would recommend waiting to see if you could buy a used copy of the game so the funds don’t go to Rowling. Consider the points brought up by critics, but have fun with the game, and enjoy running around Hogwarts and the many other locations of the Wizarding World.
