After unveiling the long-awaited, Harry Potter-themed RPG, Hogwarts Legacy, at Sony’s PlayStation 5 event, Warner Bros. was quick to clarify series’ creator JK Rowling’s relationship to the project. The statement claims that Rowling has had limited involvement with Hogwarts Legacy‘s story and development.
It is unlikely that the expedient announcement is coincidental, as Rowling has recently drawn fire for a litany of transphobic tweets and an aggressive essay intended to clarify her position. Her recently released novel, Troubled Blood, has renewed controversy for featuring a cisgendered male serial killer who cross-dresses to prey on women. Many former fans have expressed anger, alienation, and even grief over the author’s comments, feeling that the Harry Potter franchise is now tainted by her involvement.
Facing an outcry and calls for a preemptive boycott on Twitter, Warner Bros. issued a statement emphasizing the company’s commitment to “fostering a diverse and inclusive culture” and their “responsibility to foster empathy,” without specifically naming Rowling’s comments as a catalyst. Similarly, Hogwarts Legacy‘s FAQ states that Rowling was not involved with the game’s creation, and that its story is not based on a new narrative from the author. The statement does acknowledge Rowling’s “extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World,” however.
These announcements and clarifications are essential and expected PR moves, though for many fans, they may not be enough to redeem the project. Rowling will undoubtedly receive royalties from the game, and fans looking to hold her responsible for her discriminatory views are already calling for a preemptive boycott of the title. The scenario raises a dilemma of separating art from artist, particularly when a franchise grows to include hundreds of collaborators beyond the original creator.
Nobody has been hit harder by the situation than the Hogwarts Legacy developers, who expressed hurt at Rowling’s comments. A majority of the developers are undoubtedly fans of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World universe, but feel betrayed or ashamed to be associated with Rowling.
The game’s impressive trailer promises would-be witches and wizards the ability to attend Hogwarts in the late 1800s, exploring the school grounds and the world beyond. In addition to brewing potions, riding broomsticks, and learning a wide variety of magical spells, Hogwarts Legacy boasts an impressive list of fantastic beasts players can interact with.
In many respects, Hogwarts Legacy looks like it could be a Harry Potter fan’s dream come true. And if the story and mechanics can deliver upon the promise of its preview, it is primed to rival or surpass the best Harry Potter games crafted to date. Regardless of quality, it has yet to be seen whether the title can prevail despite its associations with Rowling, however remote they may be.
Hogwarts Legacy is currently in development for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S with a projected 2021 release.
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