‘Hogwarts Legacy’ becomes one of the best-selling video games in history, earning $850 million in two weeks

The Harry Potter-themed game ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ has become one of the best-selling video games of all time, despite many claiming they would boycott the release due to JK Rowling’s trans views.

The hit video game racked up a total of $850 million in revenue with 12 million sales, according to figures released by creator Warner Bros. Games. This makes ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ one of the best-selling games of all time and the most lucrative launch for the Warner Bros. Discovery media empire.

Even before its release, ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ drew strong opinions online, as the Wizarding World creator faced accusations of transphobia for emphasizing biological sex over gender identity.

Many trans rights activists called for a boycott of the game, as Rowling would likely receive royalties as the creator of the wizarding universe.

The author of the Harry Potter series did not create any Hogwarts Legacy characters or the story, but she remains the owner of the Wizarding World franchise intellectual property.

Warner Bros. made the decision to include a trans witch in the story. Sirona Ryan works as a waitress at Three Broomsticks pub

‘Hogwarts Legacy’ racked up a total of $850 million in revenue with 12 million sales in two weeks

In the game, developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Portkey Games, players can virtually explore the Harry Potter universe as a student attending the iconic Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 19th century.

The open world format allows characters to roam freely inside the magical castle, attend magic classes, and cast spells while competing on quests.

Prior to the hit game’s release, Warner Bros. and Portkey attempted to distance themselves from the controversy surrounding Rowling.

A message was posted on the game’s website explicitly stating that Rowling was not involved in the game’s creation.

“JK Rowling is not involved in the creation of the game,” the website said. “While staying true to JK Rowling’s original vision, the game developers at Portkey chart new territory by creating new ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.”

Warner Bros. even made the decision to include a trans witch in the story.

Game director Alan Tew previously told IGN: “We know it’s a diverse audience. For us, it’s making sure that the audience that has always dreamed of having this game has a chance to feel welcome again.”

But many trans activists still rejected the release due to the likelihood that royalties would find their way into Rowling’s pocket.

JK Rowling’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been embroiled in controversy over her transgender stance. Pictured: Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley in ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ (2003)

JK Rowling presents her novel ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ which goes on sale July 20, 2007

Jessie Earl, a trans YouTuber, who has 210,000 subscribers, called for a boycott of the game, saying “any support for something like Hogwarts Legacy is harmful.”

Rowling accused the YouTuber of “pure thinking” when she tweeted in response, saying: “The truly righteous would not only burn their books and movies, but the local library, anything with an owl on it, and their own dogs.”

Twitch streamer Will Overgard also urged a boycott, insisting that “by supporting the title, you’re essentially aligning yourself with some really egregious transphobic values.”

Percy Ranson, a reviewer for GamesHub, who identifies as transgender, wrote: “If you buy this game, if you praise its qualities and encourage others to ‘support the developers’ or ‘indulge in a guilty pleasure,’ you are doing a choice that will hurt the transgender community, whether you want to admit it or not.’

In addition to huge sales, and despite the controversy, the game received rave reviews.

Metacritic gave the magical game a score of 85 out of 100, as an aggregation of 60 different opinions from video game critics.

IGN also gave the title nine out of 10, saying the game “absolutely nails the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry vibe” and calling the adventure sequences “incredibly good”, though deducted one point for holes in the title. plot and graphical glitches.

And despite decades of earlier in-universe material to draw on, site Gaming Age said the game “not only bathes in the warm reflected glow of nostalgia” but also offers new contributions.

However, Digital Trends gave ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ 2.5 stars out of five, reviewing a ‘cold and clinical’ company with a design that ‘lacks imagination’.