Tonya Velcko – Contributing Writer

tpv5067@psu.edu

As someone who’s gender identity falls under the transgender umbrella, I am just as upset by J.K. Rowling’s social media posts over the years as anyone else in the LGBTQIA+ community. However, I am also a huge Harry Potter nerd and gamer. When Hogwarts Legacy was announced, I was ecstatic! I could not wait to explore Hogwarts, learn spells, care for magical beasts, and duel with my classmates. I never even thought about Rowling or her possible involvement. At that point, I had already separated the two entities in my mind. The world of Harry Potter was its own enigma now, independent of its creator.
So, when I heard that some were boycotting the game due to Rowling’s anti-trans statements, I was confused. What does a video game have to do with Rowling’s latest social media shenanigans? Yes, she holds the rights to the Harry Potter IP and what not, but she was not even involved in the development. Hogwarts Legacy’s official website states that the plot is not a new story by Rowling, nor was she involved in its creation. It does state that the developers
collaborated with her team to “… ensure it remains in line with the magical experiences fans expect.” This could simply involve ensuring continuity and authenticity. It does not mean that Rowling’s team hand crafted the video
game to reflect her political views.

If you are someone who decided to boycott this game, that is your decision to make. I do pose this question though: why? Are you boycotting because you want to support the transgender community? That is fine. Are you boycotting
because you have issues with Rowling’s views? That is also fine. Are you boycotting because Rowling was involved with the game, and you do not wish to support anything she creates? That is not fine because it is simply not true.

Yes, Rowling will receive some form of financial benefit from Hogwarts Legacy sales, but that is only because she is the original creator of the Harry Potter franchise. The true creators of this game are a brilliant team of designers,
programmers, artists, and writers. They have poured their hearts and souls into this project for years in order to make it the best it can be. Why would you fault them for one person who was not even directly involved?

At the end of the day, Harry Potter is a popular franchise that has a large fan base. It is also a franchise whose author holds controversial opinions and has a large social media presence. But her personal views do
not seem to be present in the latest additions to the wizarding world. Many people, like me, have separated the art from the artist long ago. Others cannot do this. Both of these are valid viewpoints, and neither is inherently right or
wrong. Whether or not you are buying Hogwarts Legacy, you are entitled to that decision. It is your money and your choice. However, those who have bought the game should not be judged for doing so for the same reasons. This is
a fantasy world where dragons roam the skies, humans can turn into animals at will, goblins run the banks, and a talking hat decides what uniform colors you wear. Why does it have to be more than that?