'Hogwarts Legacy' Reassures Gamers It Has Nothing To Do With J.K. Rowling

Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software has assured fans that their new game Hogwarts Legacy, an action-RPG set in the Harry Potter universe, has nothing to do with J.K. Rowling.

"J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game, however her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World. This is not a new J.K. Rowling," says the team on the game's official website.

It's unclear if the statement has anything to do with Rowling's recent controversies or if it's merely a statement of fact. This year alone, Rowling ignited numerous backlashes over statements that many accused of being transphobic.

It's also unclear if Rowling will receive royalties for the title; Warner Bros. refused to answer that question when approached by Kotaku. The company put out a statement in June affirming its commitment to diversity while tiptoeing around any mention of Rowling.

"Warner Bros.’ position on inclusiveness is well established, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture has never been more important to our company and to our audiences around the world," they said. "We deeply value the work of our storytellers who give so much of themselves in sharing their creations with us all. We recognize our responsibility to foster empathy and advocate understanding of all communities and all people, particularly those we work with and those we reach through our content."

After the game's announcement at the recent PlayStation 5 showcase, some fans called for a boycott of the game due to Rowling's recent behavior. The gaming and Harry Potter community was split on whether to support the game, with some believing any royalties Rowling may receive are meaningless compared to the work developers put into the game, while others argued that to support the title could be harmful to trans people.

I waited #HogwartsLegacy for long and I stand against JKR actions today, but developers and people involved into HP projects worked hard and shouldn't pay, as the actors in the movies. It's not right to ruin anyone else life/career because of her. HP is way more than that person. pic.twitter.com/trvu0ksYl2

— Barbara #百英雄伝 (@vanellopeb) September 17, 2020

honestly who cares if buying the new hogwarts game will support J.K. she's already got a new worth of 1 billion so it's not like a boycott would do anything. Also it's not just her i'm supporting by buying it, what about all the people making the game? #HogwartsLegacy

— DewSaMmich04 (@Dewsam04) September 17, 2020

And being a licensed game, a percentage of every sale goes straight to Joanne, and you know she’ll use part of her wealth and influence to hurt people like me. It’s not a 1-for-1 payout, but every sale not only pays her but also tells other powerful people that she has influence pic.twitter.com/JyolKEOBNt

— Crystal Frasier (@AmazonChique) September 17, 2020

Me seeing y’all hype up the game adaptation of the transphobic racist series as if removing JK’s name suddenly gonna stop her from getting money from royalties #HogwartsLegacy pic.twitter.com/g2YfXLxVgd

— surrender your money to adam sass (@nekuthebooklock) September 17, 2020

JK Rowling having 'no involvement' in #HogwartsLegacy as being reported means she didn't tell them what to put in it or play any part of the story dev. It does not mean she doesn't mske money off it. Buying this supports a bigot. Don't. pic.twitter.com/X8VEzM7hu1

— Amy Walker (@Amazing_Amy_W) September 17, 2020

If anything, the fracas underlines the bizarre reality of Harry Potter fandom in 2020: it's still a series beloved by many, yet those people also want little to do with the series due to the views of its creator. For fans, negotiating this dilemma is proving challenging.