Part of the game’s expectation is based on controversy surrounding Harry Potter’s creator — J.K. Rowling. The author has repeatedly made anti-trans comments, and some of the movies’ actors have spoken out against them. Some gamers also are boycotting Hogwarts Legacy over the controversy.
“It’s not a commercial risk so much as is a cultural one,” van Dreunen said of the game’s release.
The game features a trans character, a first for the franchise. Though the Hogwarts Legacy character Sirona Ryan does not explicitly say she is trans, dialogue in a scene suggests it: “[It] took them a second to realize I was actually a witch, not a wizard,” the character said.
Warner Bros. Discovery said creating diverse characters was a high priority in order to encompass all people who play the games including the LGBTQIA+ community.
The company says J.K. Rowling is not involved in the Hogwarts Legacy game. But she does stand to make licensing royalties. Some fans have been turned off to the franchise because of Rowling’s comments, others say they won’t let that get in the way of experiencing a new world of Harry Potter.
Beamer wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:14:
The controversy isn't driving sales. This is Harry Potter. It has one of the most attended theme parks in America. It's sold billions of books.
That you're saying the first decent entry in the most popular media for one of the top 10 IPs in the world is successful because of controversy around the author, I'd question your analysis.
Then again, the same people saying the controversy is making it successful are the ones who also say most people don't care or don't know about the controversy, which feels like mutually exclusive statements
Darks wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:23:Beamer wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:14:
The controversy isn't driving sales. This is Harry Potter. It has one of the most attended theme parks in America. It's sold billions of books.
That you're saying the first decent entry in the most popular media for one of the top 10 IPs in the world is successful because of controversy around the author, I'd question your analysis.
Then again, the same people saying the controversy is making it successful are the ones who also say most people don't care or don't know about the controversy, which feels like mutually exclusive statements
Well, you would be wrong, I happen to know a lot of people we went out of their way just because of all the controversy surrounding this game and bought copies. I've also read on Steam similar comments. Maybe you need to do some more research Beamer!
I honestly don't know why you think this is not happening when it is!
Darks wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:01:
All this hate towards her is doing nothing but driving up the interest and sales of the game. I was in a Twitch steam yesterday for giveaways cosmetics, and there were over 52000 people watching that stream. And that was just one stream!
I know a lot of people who are purposely buying the game just to spite those who are against it, and not one of them has regretted their purchase because the game is that good and fun.
Steam has reported the game had over 489.000 people playing the game, and that is just the Early access people, image how many more will be online today when it goes live.
Darks wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:01:Took me a moment to process "giveaway cosmetics."
All this hate towards her is doing nothing but driving up the interest and sales of the game. I was in a Twitch steam yesterday for giveaways cosmetics, and there were over 52000 people watching that stream. And that was just one stream!
I know a lot of people who are purposely buying the game just to spite those who are against it, and not one of them has regretted their purchase because the game is that good and fun.
Steam has reported the game had over 489.000 people playing the game, and that is just the Early access people, image how many more will be online today when it goes live.
Beamer wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:14:Woah there buddy. How could you forget about Lego Harry Potter??
The controversy isn't driving sales. This is Harry Potter. It has one of the most attended theme parks in America. It's sold billions of books.
That you're saying the first decent entry in the most popular media for one of the top 10 IPs in the world is successful because of controversy around the author, I'd question your analysis.
Darks wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:23:Beamer wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:14:
The controversy isn't driving sales. This is Harry Potter. It has one of the most attended theme parks in America. It's sold billions of books.
That you're saying the first decent entry in the most popular media for one of the top 10 IPs in the world is successful because of controversy around the author, I'd question your analysis.
Then again, the same people saying the controversy is making it successful are the ones who also say most people don't care or don't know about the controversy, which feels like mutually exclusive statements
Well, you would be wrong, I happen to know a lot of people we went out of their way just because of all the controversy surrounding this game and bought copies. I've also read on Steam similar comments. Maybe you need to do some more research Beamer!
I honestly don't know why you think this is not happening when it is!
Laughing Man wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 12:01:I'd be interested in reading those. Could you link to them all?RedEye9 wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:35:It took me less than 5 minutes to find over 20 comments like he was saying existed on steam. But definitely his bubble, amirite?
Someone in my bubble... .When the statistical data point of one becomes many. sigh
jdreyer wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 12:53:It's obviously a ginormous statistical and valid sample. Well worth your time. :-facepalm-:Laughing Man wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 12:01:I'd be interested in reading those. Could you link to them?RedEye9 wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:35:It took me less than 5 minutes to find over 20 comments like he was saying existed on steam. But definitely his bubble, amirite?
Someone in my bubble... .When the statistical data point of one becomes many. sigh
The Half Elf wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 12:19:You say that like being able to compartmentalize is a good thing that should be encouraged.Darks wrote on Feb 10, 2023, 11:01:
All this hate towards her is doing nothing but driving up the interest and sales of the game. I was in a Twitch steam yesterday for giveaways cosmetics, and there were over 52000 people watching that stream. And that was just one stream!
I know a lot of people who are purposely buying the game just to spite those who are against it, and not one of them has regretted their purchase because the game is that good and fun.
Steam has reported the game had over 489.000 people playing the game, and that is just the Early access people, image how many more will be online today when it goes live.
People are buying the game "just out of spite"? Really?
Maybe there are just people who can actually compartmentalize their enjoyment of the game/franchise vs what the creator of it says? I mean it's a much simpler reason. Not everyone has to have an agenda.