What happens when you really, really like something, but that thing you like is also associated with someone you don’t like? Chaos. It’s chaos. Chaos, do you understand?
And few people understand that right now better than the video game and cultural experts at IGN, who found themselves in the uncomfortable position of enjoying the “Hogwarts Legacy” game while also having serious problems with J.K. Rowling’s descent into transphobic madness.
The game scored an impressive 9 out of 10:
In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play. 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. It’s certainly weighed down by technical issues, a lackluster main story, and some poor enemy variety, but even those couldn’t come close to breaking its enchanting spell over me.
"please don't yell at us for reviewing this game" pic.twitter.com/09DJnFl99O
— Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) February 6, 2023
What an embarrassing statement.
First of all, it’s possible to separate the art from the artist. People do it all the time. Hell, Roald Dahl was beloved as a children’s author while by all accounts also being a horrible, hateful bigot. It doesn’t mean you have to stop reading “Matilda” to your kids. Conservatives manage to enjoy movies and TV shows and art despite the liberal politics of the vast majority of actors and singers and musicians. There’s more to life than politics, after all.
Also, the idea that IGN thought they needed to apologize for liking an entertaining game is just plain stupid. And if they’re worried about offending social justice warriors, well, maybe they should try catering to an audience of gamers who care more about having fun than they do about the feelings of a relatively small group of people that no one would ever actually want to be around in real life.
Also, for anyone who has missed any of the previous squillion memos, J.K. Rowling is not transphobic. Maintaining that there are biological differences between men and women is not transphobic.
Also, what an embarrassing statement.
“Don’t yell at us for fostering the very atmosphere and toxicity that is causing us to write this.”
— The Original Kony 2012 (@Wowgotmegood) February 6, 2023
Ha! No kidding.
Recommended
"whether it’s ethical to play is a separate but still very important question"
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) February 6, 2023
Narrator: It was not an important question. We’re talking about an effing video game.
It’s funny because if you leave the tiny internet social media bubble you will realize 99% of people don’t care at all and this game will make gobs of money.
Return to the era of supporting well-made products on the merits of the product its self.
— Zakk (@zakktech) February 6, 2023
Stop making sense!
All these words because they know they're walking through a minefield. Wonder how many dozens of people reviewed this text word by word before it went out.
— Blah de Vivre (@blahdevivre) February 6, 2023
J.K. Rowling isn’t a murderer. She’s not a criminal. She’s just a woman who lifted herself up by her own bootstraps and created a universe beloved by millions. Billions. Oh, and she happens to understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Hey IGN,
Review the game and STFU. https://t.co/p9NZu4YCyi
— Dale Jackson – "Alabama's Most Trusted Journalist" (@TheDaleJackson) February 6, 2023
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