Harry Potter and the magical world in which he lives haven’t been served particularly well by video games since the first novel came out in 1997, but this week, with the release of open-world RPG Hogwarts Legacy, all that was set to change. After months of strong pre-order sales, the AAA title was released today, Feb. 7. The reviews have been positive, but for many fans and gamers, the fun of an epic game set in the magical realm of Harry Potter is overshadowed by real world controversy. At issue: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling’s views on trans people.
J.K. Rowling, TERFs, and Twitter
Known for her massively successful fantasy novels, author J.K. Rowling might seem like an unlikely candidate for cultural controversy, but over the last five years or so, the author has increasingly come under fire for her opinions about trans issues, She’s been called out for her tweets, her 2020 novel Troubled Blood that features a cisgender male serial killer who dresses as a woman in order to lure victims, and particularly for this essay that takes aim at trans activism.
Critics have labeled Rowling a “TERF,” or “Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist,” and her views have prompted serious backlash, including a rebuke from GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis, who said, “it is very disappointing to see J.K. Rowling, with such a platform, such an influence, and because she’s been so near and dear to the queer community in her fantastical writings, that she would turn her back on the trans community and the LGBTQ community.”
Even the stars of the Harry Potter movies have distanced themselves from Rowling’s views: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson have all offered some variation of “I don’t agree with what Rowling says.”
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“Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are,” Watson tweeted. “I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”
Rowling’s involvement in ‘Hogwarts Legacy’
In the wake of the controversy, Hogwarts Legacy publisher Warner Bros. Games has taken pains to clarify its relationship with Rowling. The company says Rowling was not directly involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy. From Legacy’s FAQ:
“J.K. Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game, but as creator of the wizarding world and one of the world’s greatest storytellers, 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, however we have collaborated closely with her team on all aspects of the game to ensure it remains in line with the magical experiences fans expect.”
Whether she directly created the game or not, Rowling owns the Harry Potter intellectual property and will certainly profit from the success of Hogwarts Legacy, leading some gamers to call for a boycott of the title, some gaming media sources to refuse to review it, Steam users to tag the game “psychological horror,” and a Twitch-based effort to convince gamers to donate money to transgender support charity Mermaids instead of buying the game that has raised over $5,000. It can’t really be quantified, but any number of gamers have publicly said they plan to boycott the game by simply not buying it.
Is Hogwarts Legacy’s content problematic?
On the surface, Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t seem transphobic. The game’s character creation allows players to build transgender magic users instead of choosing between “wizard” and witch,” and it features Sirona Ryan, an NPC who suggests they are trans, a first in the Potter-universe. As you might expect, this nod toward inclusion was met with the accusation that the character was only included as a token to “handwave concerns from the trans community instead of listening,” as well as criticism from the opposite side of the issue, where some described the effort as “virtue signaling.”
The complexity of Harry Potter fandom
The controversy over Rowlings views has left many Harry Potter fans grappling with the thorny issue of whether an artist with repellent opinions invalidates their art. Many longtime fans responded to Rowling’s views by refusing to support the official “wizarding world” in favor of fan-made creations or moving on entirely; others are walking a more nuanced line.
“As a fandom, we have been looking forward to this game before it was even announced,” Asher Chelder, a transgender Potter fan who is part of the social media team at fan site MuggleNet, told Sky News. “I found a lot of solace in the series and it’s something I can’t shake. It’s part of who I am.”
