Spellbound

The biggest Harry Potter fan in the world is PennsylvaniaA US state with a population of nearly 13 million. resident Steve Petrick.¹ He has 2,000 items of Potter memorabilia and six Potter-themed tattoos, and he once had tea with Draco Malfoy actor Tom Felton.

Now he has another item to add to his collection: Hogwarts Legacy, a new game set in the Potter universe.

Harry Potter is one of the world's biggest franchises, thought to be worth at least £32.5 billion.² Hogwarts Legacy will likely add handsomely to this empire.

But the release has been marked by fierce online debate over whether or not it is ethical to play the game, with some even calling on people to boycottTo withdraw relations from an organisation as a punishment or protest. The word comes from the surname of a Victorian Irish landlord who was subject to a boycott from poor farmers who demanded rent reduction. it.

It is easy to forget just how broad and deep the cultural imprint of Harry Potter was. Its readers practically invented the concept of a "fandom". Thousands still avidly discuss the series in online forums.

But in recent years, some have felt that the sheen has been coming off.

The spin-off films, Fantastic Beasts, failed to impress critics and fans alike. Many felt they lacked the spark of the original books.

But the biggest source of controversy surrounding the series is author JK Rowling's views on transgender people.

Many point out that diehard Harry Potter fans were often outsiders. The series was a haven for nerdy kids who liked books: it made their interests mainstream, even cool. 

And for those who, like Harry, had difficult home lives or were bullied for being different, it held out the hope that there was something special about them that would transform their lives. Today, some of them say they feel betrayed by Rowling's activism.

But for many, Hogwarts Legacy is not only marred by Rowling's personal opinions. They say it also brings to the fore some of the most troubling aspects of the original books.

The game focuses on a rebellion amongst the goblins, which some have criticised as anti-SemiticShowing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people. caricatures.

Many players have said they find it uncomfortable that their aim in the game is to put down a rebellion by an enslaved race.

Yes: Looking back on the franchise, some say the books are full of uncomfortable stereotypes. Many disagree with the author's views. They think it is no longer possible to enjoy them.

No: Others think the series is about more than its creator. Much of its lore has been created by fans in online forums, beyond what is detailed in the books. And plenty still find joy in going back to Hogwarts again and again.

Or... Outside the controversy over Rowling's ideas, some think Harry Potter has gone the same way as other franchises: taken over by big business and wrung out for every drop of profit.