My Instagram followers have asked me numerous times why I won't buy or play Hogwarts Legacy, so I decided to make this short blog post to answer that question. Yes, its links to Rowling are a big reason; of course they are, but possibly not in the way many people may assume. Besides, I’ve already made my stance on the author’s views on trans rights abundantly clear.
NOTE - I use 'wizards' hereafter to refer to the magical race (of witches and wizards) rather than just those of a male persuasion, as this is the case in the original book series.
Before we get stuck in, I need to explain the game's plot briefly. Players and their allies (protagonists) fight against goblins and their allies (antagonists). Players = good guys, goblins = bad guys. That's pretty simple and a standard mode of gaming. However, some of you may not be aware that goblins are fighting in the first place due to wizards suppressing their rights, specifically their right to use magic.
The Goblin Rebellions form only a minor part of the HP lore (at least, so far). Still, the reason for the conflicts, and the resulting disharmony between wizards and goblins, is apparent, even crucial in some cases, throughout the original series. Wizards 'took away goblins' right to bear wands' as they were deemed too powerful (i.e. more powerful than wizards, and wizards wouldn't want that now, would they).
It seems that in an effort to justify this, we are told that the goblins do or have done 'bad things' and therefore deserve this specific punishment. If I'm interested in this game at all, it's in how the writers plan to justify the rights suppression of an entire race. Alas, my gut says they won't address it.
I researched this a fair bit while writing my replica of 'A History of Magic', and it didn't sit well with me then. I contemplated removing it from the book's timeline altogether (in hindsight, perhaps I should have) but resolved to rewrite and summarise it instead.
In summary
Wizards restricted the rights of another magical race to stop them from becoming more powerful. Players of Hogwarts Legacy, unless a significant plot twist and swapping-of-sides are involved later in the game, are battling to keep an opposing race oppressed.
That, in itself, regardless of the game's affiliation with Rowling, is enough to put me off. But then, she did come up with the scenario in the first place…