Why We're Worried About Hogwarts Legacy
"Hogwarts Legacy" has attracted the attention of the gaming community since it was first announced in 2020. An open-world RPG set in the universe of the massively popular "Harry Potter" franchise, "Hogwarts Legacy" caught the eyes of gamers of all ages and affiliation with the brand. That said, part of the attention the game has drawn for itself has only added to the worries housed by some fans.
There are plenty of reasons why fans worry about the game, and they're all pretty understandable. The "Harry Potter" franchise has long been a part of massive controversies, and they've bled over to "Hogwarts Legacy." Even high-profile publications like Forbes have written about whether or not "Harry Potter" fans should boycott the game, and it's a question that many players find themselves facing. Here are some of the surprising problems arising in the Wizarding World and how they've affected "Hogwarts Legacy" in turn.
The portrayal of Goblins
Fans have long held qualms about how "Harry Potter" films or books portray the Goblin bankers. They're characterized as greedy and always shown with long noses — something people have pointed out as anti-Semitic roots that define the fantasy race. While this has been a long-standing issue in the franchise, Uppercrit writer Mick Abrahamson explained that it's never been addressed by author J.K. Rowling.
The controversy made its way to the game after fans learned that the main villain would be the Goblin Ranrok. Ranrok talks about stealing the player, who's a child in-game, and some onlookers were quick to connect this to Blood Libel, the prejudiced idea that Jewish people would steal and sacrifice Christian children. Abrahamson interviewed multiple rabbis and other individuals in the Jewish community with mixed results. To some, the Goblins in the game (and franchise) are as blatant as Nazi propaganda; others think it's an insensitive oversight but that there's no intent to be anti-Semitic.
While the lack of intent is enough for some players, others are entirely writing the game off. Considering there's been no word from developer Avalanche Studio on the matter, it's something that's got many fans worried about "Hogwarts Legacy."
J.K. Rowling's opinions on gender equality
J.K. Rowling has had plenty of controversial moments, many of which have to do with the fact that she has some pretty controversial opinions about transgender equality. As GameSpot's Jessie Earl thoroughly explained, Rowling has come under fire for rhetoric that has been seen as harmful to individuals in the transgender community. This has caused some fans to reconsider their feelings about the "Harry Potter" franchise as a whole.
While "Hogwarts Legacy" has attempted to fight this stigma by introducing transgender characters via the in-game character creator, it might not be enough. Earl pointed out that it's impossible to separate Rowling from her work while she is still alive and benefiting from its popularity.
Others oppose Earl's thoughts, saying that it's okay to play the game if fans love the franchise. Some had also argued that their fandom began well before the controversy, making the game acceptable to purchase and play. The issue has the community split, and it's enough to cause concern about how the game will be received and marketed.
Hogwarts Legacy has had a string of delays
If the controversies alone weren't enough to make fans skeptical about "Hogwarts Legacy," the multiple delays faced by the title would be enough to have anyone worried. One Twitter user made a meme about the constant delays, from the original 2021 release year to the Holiday 2022 release window to the February 10, 2023 release date.
Some expect the game to be lackluster because of all the delays, while others think it will be a polished title because of the extra development time. Some Twitter users believe the delay was a blessing in disguise, so "Hogwarts Legacy" won't have to compete against other long-awaited titles, lending credence to the idea that "God of War Ragnarok" has had other games running scared.
With all the controversies and trouble "Hogwarts Legacy" finds itself in, "Harry Potter" fans will have to decide if it's morally worth supporting when the title is eventually released.