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 Harry Potter item to add to his collection. Hogwarts Legacy, a new game set in the Potter universe, was released just last week.

Harry Potter is one of the world's biggest franchises, thought to be worth at least £32.5 billion.² And with 1.3 million people watching gamers play preview copies on TwitchA video streaming service which broadcasts video game livestreams and esports competitions. before the release, many expect Hogwarts Legacy to 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 entirely.

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". The internet is still full of forums where avid fans trade their own insights and stories within the Harry Potter universe.

There is even an online community of "snapewives", people who believe they can communicate with Severus Snape on the astral planeA separate plane of existence discussed in some philosophies and religions. and are in romantic relationships with him.

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

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

The series was also tainted for some fans by its association with Johnny Depp, who was dropped from the last film after allegations surfaced about abuse towards his wife, Amber Heard.³

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

Some 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.

In the game, they blow a horn that looks very similar to a shofar, a traditional Jewish instrument, and there are references to a previous goblin rebellion in Frankfurt in 1612. In real life, there was a pogromA violent riot with the aim of massacring or forcing out an ethnic group, particularly Jewish people. in Frankfurt that year.

Many players have said they find it uncomfortable that their aim in the game is to put down a rebellion by an enslaved race, especially one that has so many parallels with Jewish people.

The American talk show host who first accused the goblins of being caricatures of Jewish people later said he did not think JK Rowling or the Harry Potter films were anti-Semitic. And there is no doubt: Hogwarts Legacy has already become hugely popular. But one thing is clear: the debate about the series' legacy will not disappear any time soon.

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.