Hogwarts Legacy game comes out as online debate continues

Hogwarts Legacy, a major video game adaptation of the wizarding world created by JK Rowling, has arrived, following a fierce online debate.

An open world adventure title like this has been at the top of some Harry Potter fans’ wish lists for some time.

But others are calling for a boycott because of Rowling’s public comments on issues about transgender people.

Despite the controversy, it is predicted by some to be the biggest-selling premium release of 2023.

The title has already broken records for the number of people watching streamers playing preview copies. At one point, it’s reported that 1.3 million people were watching content related to the game on Twitch.

Some have pushed back against the boycott, arguing that choosing to play the game doesn’t automatically mean they support the author’s statements.

The title sees players attend the school made famous by Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger – but before their time, back in the 1800s.

You can zoom around on a broomstick, learn to cast spells, explore the castle, fight giant spiders and collect a variety of hats and scarves to wear as you go.

Critical reaction to the game itself has been largely positive, with review aggregator Metacritic scoring the PlayStation 5 version at 86%.

The Guardian’s games editor Keza MacDonald wasn’t as enthusiastic as some, writing: “Hogwarts Legacy derives its magic from its setting, not from its game design, which is competent but unspectacular.”

She said the game feels too familiar to others in the genre to really stand out, but concluded that its “magical moments and the setting rescue it from mediocrity, but only if the Wizarding World still has you under its spell”.

Travis Northup, reviewing for IGN, wrote: “Its open-world adventure captures all the excitement and wonder of the Wizarding World with its memorable new characters, challenging and nuanced combat, and a wonderfully executed Hogwarts student fantasy that kept me glued to my controller for dozens of hours.”

He scored it nine out of 10 but did comment on some technical issues, a lacklustre main story and some poor enemy variety as drawbacks.

Having spent roughly a third of the estimated 35 hours it would take to finish the main game playing myself, I think the attention to detail is impressive and it comes into its own as a simulation of life in Hogwarts – but elements of the gameplay are a little repetitive.

It’s clear that the developers have made a significant attempt to modernise the setting. The character customisation options are thorough for all ethnic backgrounds, there is global representation in the non-playable-characters, as well as gay and trans representation.