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Hogwarts Legacy's Developers On J. K. Rowling's Involvement
Since Hogwarts Legacy’s initial announcement, many have questioned J. K. Rowling’s involvement, as well as her remuneration for the game. While some argue that boycotting Harry Potter will have little impact on Rowling's financial status, others argue that continuing to her brand helps maintain her platform and influence. Without naming Rowling outright, Hogwarts Legacy's Game Director Alan Tew commented on the situation in a recent IGN article:
I think for us there are challenges in every game we've worked on. This game has been no different. When we bumped into those challenges, we went back and refocused on the stuff that we really care about. We know our fans fell in love with the Wizarding World, and we believe they fell in love with it for the right reasons... We know that's a diverse audience. For us, it's making sure that the audience, who always dreamed of having this game, had the opportunity to feel welcomed back. That they have a home here and that it's a good place to tell their story.
Immediately after this moment in the IGN interview, author Luke Winkie writes, "Tew stopped short of mentioning J.K. Rowling by name, nor did he say anything specific about trans issues or trans rights. I asked him a second question — if he, himself, ever had any second thoughts about working on this IP after Rowling's biases made headlines — and after a pause, Tew reiterated his earlier statement: That the team made Hogwarts Legacy for everyone."
While J. K. Rowling’s fortune shows no sign of dwindling, her reputation is no longer what it once was. During the height of COVID lockdowns, book sales soared. Despite this, J. K. Rowling's book sales lagged during the same period, an apparent response to the author's anti-trans tweets.
Hogwarts Legacy Tries To Distance Itself From J. K. Rowling
The Hogwarts Legacy website advises that J. K. Rowling isn’t directly involved, although "her team" are. However, as with all Harry Potter IPs, Rowling will undoubtedly earn royalties on Hogwarts Legacy. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t the first time a Wizarding World production has attempted to distance itself from Harry Potter’s creator due to her controversial statements. HBO Max’s Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts special used several-year-old footage of J. K. Rowling instead of new interviews, with Rowling not in attendance.
Many of the actors who starred in the Harry Potter movies have publicly denounced Rowling’s controversial anti-trans comments. Daniel Radcliffe apologized to Harry Potter fans for the harm caused by Rowling's comments while voicing his for transgender and nonbinary people.
While the conversation around the game is complex and nuanced, players should be aware of how J. K. Rowling stands to profit from Hogwarts Legacy's release, as well as why Rowling’s anti-trans comments are so harmful. Although J. K. Rowling may not be a politician or lawmaker, her rhetoric has been shared far and wide, with quotes from the author frequently used in of anti-trans legislation. The anti-trans remarks made by Rowling continue to spread the dangerous and false perception that transgender people inherently pose a threat to women’s rights and safety.
Hogwarts Legacy Boycotts
According to Hogwarts Legacy's first release date. Right now, simply searching "Hogwarts Legacy" on Twitter will reveal hundreds of different opinions from all ranges of people, and while it's impossible to say for sure just how much money J. K. Rowling will make from Hogwarts Legacy, it is true that every copy boycotted is one not sold. As reported by BuzzFeed News, Rowling herself has even responded to players calling for a Hogwarts Legacy boycott at least once:
According to an Axios article from August 2022, "when asked about people who might avoid the game to avoid ing Rowing, [Head of Warner Bros. Games David] Haddad said: 'We're going to stay very focused on the game that we built and the great job that the Avalanche studio has done... We want everybody that loves this world and loves these stories and loves these characters.'"
Source: Hogwarts Legacy, IGN, HBO Max/YouTube, BuzzFeed News, Axios
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
In the USA:
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
Switchboard: 01273 204050
Mermaids: 0808 801 0400