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Unpacking the controversy surrounding Hogwarts Legacy

Avalanche Software’s Hogwarts Legacy allows players to explore J.K. Rowling’s fantastic Harry Potter universe in an open-world role-playing setting. As the game’s main character, you select your House and appearance, develop relationships with students and more.

For many fans of the series’ books or films, it’s the Wizarding World video game they’ve been waiting for.

I covered the controversial title for MobileSyrup, explored its detailed world and completed the main story. Overall, I had a lot of fun with the game. However, before and while I played Hogwarts Legacy, I felt conflicted because of Rowling’s stance on the transgender community.

For those unaware of the controversy, in 2020, Rowling made an egregious comment on Twitter in response to an opinion piece.

Rowling’s tweet implied that “people who menstruate” are “women,” disregarding that not all women menstruate — including trans women.

Since then, Rowling has used her expansive platform to promote her anti-trans views several times. For example, Rowling’s anti-trans stance stems from her belief trans women aren’t women and should be treated differently. Rowling, who is a survivor of sexual abuse, also claims she wants women to be safe in bathrooms, perpetuating the stereotype that trans women are predators. U.S. politicians have even cited Rowling’s rhetoric when pushing back against pro-LGBTQ+ bills.

The author continues to vocally spread her beliefs, causing harm to those in the trans community, and because of this, many that were once fans of Rowling’s work have turned away from anything to do with the Wizarding World, including Hogwarts Legacy.

With all that said, I want to dive into the controversy surrounding the title to unpack my conflicted feelings about the game, and also to educate our readers about the issues trans women face.

If you want suggested readings from trans writers to better understand why Hogwarts Legacy is so controversial, follow this link.

Are you anti-trans if you play Hogwarts Legacy?

While I don’t believe playing Hogwarts Legacy directly means you hold an anti-trans stance, many disagree with this sentiment.

“Any support of the Harry Potter franchise current projects while J.K. Rowling is in charge of it and using her ongoing platform to target and also justify her continued targeting of trans people is harmful to trans people,” tweeted YouTuber and writer Jessie Earl.

Even though Rowling didn’t create the game herself and wasn’t involved in its development, she still financially benefits from Hogwarts Legacy‘s sales and created the world the game is based on, as noted by Bloomberg‘s Jason Schreier.

Hogwarts Legacy started development in 2018, with job listings tied to the title appearing as early as 2017. As noted earlier, J.K.’s cruel tweets about the trans community started in 2020; before this, most were unaware of her anti-trans beliefs.

Unfortunately, boycotting Hogwarts Legacy won’t hurt Rowling — a billionaire with many revenue streams aside from Hogwarts Legacy — as much as it will the developers who created the game and signed onto the project before her statements and blog post. If not hurt monetarily, having all your efforts go to waste can be a cause of pain.

Some might argue the development team at Avalanche Software, and even the voice actors, should have just left their jobs when the author’s beliefs came to light. But this a privileged way to look at the situation, given leaving your job is not a viable option for many, especially amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impending economic recession.

The voice actor for the masculine-gendered Hogwarts Legacy character, Sebastian Croft, tweeted this before the game’s launch (check out the tweet below). Croft also stars in Heartbreakers, a Netflix show focused on a group of LGBTQ+ teens.

I echo Croft’s beliefs. When I purchased Hogwarts Legacy, it didn’t improve Rowling’s life. She’s already a billionaire, and the royalties she’ll earn from Hogwarts Legacy won’t change that.

Hogwarts Legacy also doesn’t actively spread hatred and strives to be inclusive in several ways. For instance, the title allows users to create their own in-game avatar, make that character look exactly how they want, and change their voice to sound more feminine or masculine. Unfortunately, you still need to identify as a ‘witch’ or ‘wizard,’ which disregards other genders in a sense, such as those that are genderfluid or non-binary.

The game also features a trans character that is reportedly voiced by a trans woman. However, some reports indicate that this character was just added to appease fans upset about Rowling’s comments. Further, some criticize the character for their name, ‘Sirona Ryan,’ which can be coded as ‘Sir Ryan.’ With the Harry Potter novels featuring characters named Cho Chang and Kingsly Shacklebolt, this, admittedly, isn’t a good look for Hogwarts Legacy, although others have pointed out that “Sirona” is actually an old Celtic name for a goddess.

Despite the lack of racial diversity in Harry Potter stories (except for the aforementioned few with racist names), Hogwarts Legacy does a good job of including people from different walks of life and cultures. The friend that the playable character makes from Gryffindor, Natsai “Natty” Onai, is from Africa, where they don’t need to use wands to cast spells. Other classmates and teachers are also from different races, such as Japanese Broom professor Chiyo Kogawa, Korean caretaker Gladwin Moon and Indian Charms Master Abraham Ronen.

It’s also worth mentioning that the game focuses on a goblin rebellion, and some are prejudiced against goblins in the title. Goblins aren’t a race, so you can’t be racist towards a goblin; however, since the early books, many have related goblins to Jewish people, due to specific stereotypes. It’s worth noting that goblins in many sources of fantasy literature and games are shown similarly.

Jason Schreier, a Jewish journalist, doesn’t feel Hogwarts Legacy is antisemitic but finds the game overall “dull.”

Some who worked on the game also don’t agree with purchasing the title, including Parker Hartzler.

While buying Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t make a notable difference to Rowling’s bank account, there’s a valid argument that, as an ally, you should avoid supporting Rowling in any shape or form. The Gamer editor-in-chief Stacey Hanley holds this view and said the following:

“On the other, you have a much smaller, already marginalized group, pointing out that buying, streaming, or praising the game gives money, a further platform, and a longer future to J.K. Rowling, who is on the record saying she feels empowered that people support her beliefs because they keep buying her products.”

However, some trans people still purchased the title. Mitch Burdett, a 23-year-old trans man, spoke to Washington Post regarding his dilemma surrounding the game:

“For a while, Burdett said, he faced a crisis with how to move forward with his love of the series. Then, after talking to his mom and considering what others were saying, he decided — like many other fans — to renounce Rowling but continue to enjoy the world she built. “She doesn’t rule the wizarding world; it was just her creation,” Burdett said. “What we as fans, readers, watchers, gamers decide to do with that world is entirely separate from her or any beliefs she may have.”

Ultimately, there’s no clear-cut answer regarding how a game like Hogwarts Legacy should be approached. Some trans people and allies are okay with separating the art from the artist, while others, understandably, are not.

I really enjoyed my time with Hogwarts Legacy, but I also understand if you’re vehemently against playing it.

I know several people who are afraid to talk publicly about enjoying the game (or even playing it at all) due to concerns about fear or hatred from the trans community. People like the couple behind ‘Girlfriend Reviews’ cried over reported bullying after playing the game. There’s also a platform that can find anyone who streams the game, so you can block them.

It’s important to point out the trans community has experienced more fear and hatred than most can likely imagine, and they didn’t choose to be trans, while you chose to play Hogwarts Legacy. I personally don’t support extremists on either side of the coin, or the bullying and harassment.

I stand with transgender people, and I’m a part of the LGBTQ+ community myself. I don’t feel that I’m transphobic because I’ve covered and enjoyed Hogwarts Legacy, but I’m also still very conflicted and want to highlight that trans people continue to face a lot of hate from J.K. Rowling and her supporters.

If you are unsure about how to feel, just know that supporting the trans community in itself is the right move.

Below are several notable LGBTQ+ notable organizations you can learn from and support, including:

  • Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) — the largest national multidisciplinary, professional organization in the world, which aims to support trans and gender-diverse people
    GLAAD — an organization aiming to support the LGBTQ+ community in general
  • Trans Lifeline — a grassroots organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people (Canadians can dial 1-877-330-6366)
  • Trans Pulse Canada — a community-based survey of the health and well-being of trans/non-binary people in Canada
  • Bridges4Life — a Black lead non for profit to support Black Trans Youth.
  • In the past, I’ve chosen to support The Trevor Project —  Trevor Project provides 24/7 support for LGBTQ youth in crisis

Image credit: Warner Bros.

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FromSoftware announces Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree

It’s time to return to the Lands Between with a new Elden Ring expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree.

FromSoftware and Bandai Namco haven’t shared much about the upcoming DLC, simply tweeting that it’s “currently in development” alongside concept art.

We can see in the image what looks like a dying or corrupted Erdtree in the background. There also seems to be a steed that resembles Torrent that’s being ridden by a blonde character. The character may be Miquella, Queen Marika, or even Melina with longer hair if some time has passed.

The official Japanese site confirms that the DLC will be coming to all versions of Elden Ring, including PS4, PS5, Windows PC via Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. FromSoftware also states it’ll be some time before they share more, so a release in the coming months doesn’t seem likely.

Image credit: Bandai Namco

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Pokémon reveals Scarlet and Violet DLC, new Netflix series, Go Plus+ and more

The Pokémon Company hosted a Pokémon Presents on Monday, showcasing two new DLCs for Pokémon Violet and Scarlet, a new Netflix series called Pokémon Concierge and Pokémon Sleep, which works with the new Pokémon Go Plus+.

Starting off with the DLCs, they’ll be split into two releases. The first, The Teal Mask, is due this fall, with The Indigo Disk scheduled for this winter. Both are supposed to release in 2023 and follow a storyline called ‘The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero.’

The two DLCs come alongside five new Pokémon: Monkidori, Okidogi, Fezandipiti, Ogerpon, and Terapagos.

However, there are two new Paradox Pokémon called Iron Leaves, a Paradox variant of Virizion that’s now a Grass and Psychic-type. Walking Wake, another Paradox Pokémon, is the past version of Suicune that’s a Water and Dragon-type Pokémon. Both Pokémon are out now.

Additionally, Pokémon Sleep is finally coming out this year. You, Professor Neroli, and Snorlax will come measure and analyze your sleep by leaving your smartphone by your pillow. Your sleep will be categorized into one of three sleep types. If you don’t have your smartphone with you, you can place it beside your pillow and it can sing lullabies. The more you sleep together, the friendlier the Pikachu will become.

Pokémon Sleep is planned for summer 2023, and the Pokémon Go Plus+ is scheduled for release on July 14th, 2023. The Go Plus+ can enhance Pokémon Go by allowing you to automatically spin PokéStops and throw Poké Balls at Pokémon without taking out your phone.

Finally, Pokémon Concierge is a new Netflix series with stop-motion animation that tells the story of a Pokémon resort and its Pokémon guests.

Other updates include Pokémon Masters EX bonuses and new master sync pairs, Pokémon Unite is getting the legendary Pokémon, Zacien, and Pokémon Go allows you to send Postcards to the Nintendo Switch titles to catch the roaming Pokémon, Gimmighoul.

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Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe reimagines the Wii classic, but it’s still too easy

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is the latest in a long line of Wii and Wii U remasters for the Nintendo Switch.

If you’ve played a sidescrolling Kirby title (or the 2011 original for the Wii), you’ll know what to expect here. The pink puffball’s gameplay remains some of the most forgivable platforming out there, thanks to Kirby’s ability to float, suck up his foes and take over their often inventive powers. If you happen to miss that pivotal jump, don’t worry — just suck up some air and float back to safety. This level of forgiveness is why nearly every Kirby title — except, arguably, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which can get quite difficult –– is so great for inexperienced gamers.

On the other hand, the lack of difficulty is still the Deluxe version’s most significant issue. It remains one of the most accessible games I’ve ever played to a fault, even when you’re hunting down the not-very-difficult-to-find hidden ‘Gears’ featured in every level. But if you plan to play with younger or more inexperienced gamers, this makes Dream Land Deluxe the perfect intro to the wonderful world of gaming.

To be fair, there are new features that make Return to Dream Land Deluxe more difficult. First off, there’s a new ‘Extra Mode’ that features additional enemies, fewer healing items and more difficult bosses. While this is a welcome addition, it would have been better to select this difficult section off the top instead of being required to complete the game to unlock it.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland DeluxeOn that note, there’s a new Magolor Epilogue that has you taking on the role of Magolor. This unique take on the standard Kirby formula borrows mechanics from the RPG genre and has players gaining new abilities as they move through the mode’s various levels. With this additional mode, Nintendo has essentially added a game within a game, similar to Super Mario 3D World and the addition of standalone game Bowser’s Fury on the Switch. While the Magolor Epilogue is only 20 levels long, it’s a great addition to Kirby’s Return to Dream Land, and I hope to see more of this type of gameplay in future Kirby titles. It’s also worth noting that the epilogue is playable with four other players, just like the core game.

Thankfully, despite the Deluxe version of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land being a remaster of a now 11-year-old game, there are several other notable new features and visual improvements. While the original was released in the pre-HD Wii’s twilight years in standard definition, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe features a fresh coat of high-definition visuals.

Kirby's Return to Dreamland DeluxeWhile Dream Land Deluxe is visually impressive overall in HD, the cel-shaded-style outline around the player and enemies sometimes stands out strangely compared to the rest of the world. The game features two competing art styles that don’t feel very cohesive. On the plus side, this means it’s far easier to see Kirby, Waddle Dee, King Dedede and Meta Knight when you’re playing co-op, which can sometimes get chaotic with four players. Sticking with the visuals, just like with Return to Dream Land‘s original release, it often feels like the camera is too zoomed in, especially if you’re playing co-operatively with other players. It’s difficult to see what’s ahead of or behind you, and it feels more restrictive than other Nintendo 2D platformers like the New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, for example.

Kirby also has new Copy Abilities, including turning into sand, which works just as you’d expect, and a far more interesting Mecha ability that turns you into something out of the Mech Warrior franchise. Both abilities don’t necessarily add a lot to the experience, but they’re still fun to play around with and complement powers featured in the original game like the Hammer (hitting enemies with a hammer), Cutter (bladed boomerangs), Leaf (razorsharp leaves), Whippy (whipping your foes), Hi-Jump (bolting through the air) and more.

Finally, there’s now a new home for the title’s several new and returning mini-games called Merry Magoland, allowing you to compete against your friends, Mario Party style, in challenges like the reflex-focused Ninja Dojo, the Bomberman-inspired Booming Blasters and several more that I won’t spoil. In Magoland, you can also unlock amusing Dress-Up masks that can be worn in the game’s story mode. All of this amounts to an entertaining diversion and a few hours of fun, but it isn’t the main draw of Return to Dreamland and doesn’t compare to the bite-sized mini-game action offered by the Mario Party series.

In the end, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land is a solid 2D platformer that’s likely a little too easy for most players (unless you’re willing to play through it twice), especially if you’ve played other Nintendo platformer re-releases like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.

Of course, this could be considered a good thing if you plan to play it with younger gamers. After all, Kirby’s Dream Land for the Game Boy was one of the first video games I ever played, and I credit it with helping me better understand the basic mechanics of platformers. There’s a good chance Return to Dream Land could be that same introductory game for children today.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land releases on the Nintendo Switch on February 24th, 2023, for $79.96.

Image credit: Nintendo

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The next Pokémon Presents takes place on February 27

On Pokémon Day, February 27th, the day that the first Pokémon game launched in 1996 in Japan, The Pokémon Company has a surprise in stor for fans of the series.

A 20-minute Pokémon Presents is scheduled for 9am ET/6am PT to celebrate the series’ anniversary.

It’s unclear what the Pokémon Company will reveal that day, but rumours indicate the developer is working on a DLC for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, so it’s possible we’ll learn more about that.

While unlikely, I wish the Pokémon Company unveiled a Let’s Go-style game based on Pokémon Gold and Silver or even a Pokémon Coloseum remake.

Source: Pokémon Company

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Stadia didn’t JUST die, its been dead since day one

With Google’s Stadia completely out of the cloud gaming picture now, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has shared a statistic that reveals that Stadia had a market share much smaller than competing services.

The report, titled “Microsoft — Activision deal could harm UK gamers,” goes over how Microsoft acquiring Activision could affect Xbox Game Pass streaming. “The evidence available to the CMA currently indicates that Microsoft would find it commercially beneficial to make Activision’s games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service,” reads the report.

In one part of the report, the CMA goes over statistics regarding each cloud gaming service’s user count in 2021 and 2022.

Based on the monthly average users (MAUs) from information provided directly by each cloud gaming company, it’s revealed that Stadia never captured more than 10 percent of the cloud gaming market share.

In 2021, Stadia’s market share is estimated to be between five and ten percent, whereas, in 2022, it fell to between zero and five percent. In both years, PlayStation Cloud Gaming, Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Xbox’s xCloud far outpaced Stadia in terms of MAUs and market share.

Further, while we don’t know the exact user count Stadia boasted before its untimely death, PlayStore downloads for the Stadia app offer a good idea. “The Android app for Stadia was downloaded between 1,000,000 and 5,000,000 times, while the Android TV app was only downloaded between 100,000 and 500,000 times,” according to 9to5Google.

The CMA points to the fact that Google, being the industry giant that it is, was unable to drive Stadia to success, and because of this, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision could make it difficult for other cloud gaming services, likely the ones that don’t have an industry giant like Google backing it up, to grow and offer a competitive game library.

An excerpt from the report is below:

“We consider that Google’s recent decision to shut down its own cloud gaming service, Stadia, shows that merely having some strengths relevant to cloud gaming is not enough to guarantee a platform’s success.

We provisionally believe that content is particularly important to the success of a cloud gaming service, particularly considering Google’s failure with Stadia, which our evidence suggests was caused at least in part by a lack of gaming content, which was connected to its use of a Linux OS.”

Read the CMA’s report here.

Source: Competition and Markets Authority Via: 9to5Google

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U.K. regulator says Microsoft could need to sell Call of Duty to buy Activision

The United Kingdom’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has released a report proposing that for Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard, a “partial divesture” involving the Call of Duty series being separated from the transaction could be required. This would allow Activision Blizzard’s most valuable brand to be “capable of competing effectively under separate ownership,” says the CMA.

In a recent press release, the CMA says that in its current state, the $69 billion USD (about $92 billion) deal “could result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers,” before going on to say that its report “raises concerns about cloud and console gaming” and that the acquisition would make Microsoft “even stronger in cloud gaming.”

The CMA says the acquisition would limit competition and “could also harm UK gamers by weakening the important rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation gaming consoles.”

Other findings include the fact that the Call of Duty series is important to the rivalry between Xbox and PlayStation, and, unsurprisingly, that Microsoft making Activision’s titles, including the aforementioned shooter, exclusive to its consoles would be beneficial to the company.

Microsoft recently pledged to continue releasing new Call of Duty games on PlayStation consoles for the next 10 years, and said that it will also bring the franchise to Nintendo’s Switch. In response to the CMA’s report, Microsoft’s Microsoft corporate VP and deputy general counsel Rima Alaily told Engadget the following:

“We are committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the CMA’s concerns. Our commitment to grant long term 100 percent equal access to Call of Duty to Sony, Nintendo, Steam and others preserves the deal’s benefits to gamers and developers and increases competition in the market.”

The CMA says that its investigation took place over five months, involved business leaders at Microsoft and Xbox speaking with the organization and the examination of three million internal documents from both companies. Microsoft has until February 22nd to address the CMA’s concerns ahead of the regulator’s final report regarding the acquisition on April 26th.

Microsoft first announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard last year and has encountered significant resistance from regulators and Sony, which say the deal is “a game-change that poses a threat to our industry.”

Activision-Blizzard is currently facing ongoing legal issues regarding harassment and workplace culture. The company has been accused of enabling “frat boy culture.” Legal proceedings and investigations remain underway. Meanwhile, CEO Bobby Kotick is also under the microscope for allegedly covering up reports and allegations. New reports continue to filter in regarding sexual harassment allegations at the company.

Image credit: Activision

Source: CMA, Engadget

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Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom briefly appears for $89.99 in Canadian Nintendo eShop

The Switch’s most anticipated title, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, briefly appeared on the Canadian eShop for $89.99.

Though the price has since been removed, Canadian gaming deals Twitter account @Lbabinz grabbed a screenshot of the listing (seen below).

So what does this mean? There’s a possibility the cost of Switch titles could increase $10 from $79.99 to $89.99 in the near future. The listing also popped up in the U.S. eShop, hinting the cost of switch games could increase from $59.99 to $69.99.

That said, Tears of the Kingdom isn’t set to release until May 12th, so it’s unclear if Switch games closer on the horizon, like Octopath Traveller II, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land and more, will also receive a price hike. That said, a quick look at pre-release listings for both games indicates that isn’t the case — at least not yet.

This would move the cost of Switch titles in line with the price of most new Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 titles.

MobileSyrup has reached out to Nintendo for comment regarding the cost of Switch titles potentially increasing.

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The Last of Us PC port delayed to March 28th

In the remake, character models have been significantly improved over the original game.

Naughty Dog is delaying The Last of Us Part 1 (TLOU) for PC’s release until March 28th. This is only a slight pushback from its initial March 3rd release date.

The developer says that it needs an additional few weeks to make this version of TLOU live up to the developer’s standards.

The Last of Us TV show is now streaming on Crave in Canada. While the critically acclaimed TV show follows portions of the video game closely (at least so far), certain aspects have been adapted for television, providing more background to specific characters.

Source: @Naughty_Dog

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Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Direct could stream next week

A new Nintendo Direct could stream this coming week.

Gian Bomb‘s Jeff Grubb, an often reliable source of video game leaks, recently said that “everything I’m hearing, and it’s all just sort of reiterating it, it continues to be the week of February 6th,” during his Game Mess Twitch show.

Given Nintendo has held Direct showcases in February in the past, it makes sense that the Japanese gaming giant would stream one again this year. On his show, Grubb mentions that Advance Wars 1+2 could be shown off. The game was originally scheduled to launch last year, but was pushed back to an unknown date due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, Grubb says the star of this Direct will be the Switch’s most anticipated title, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom given its May release date is slowly drawing closer. If a new Direct is coming, it likely won’t be long before Nintendo reveals its official broadcast date.

In other Game Mess-sourced news, Grubb also discussed Vancouver’s The Coalition cancelling two games and shifting its focus to Gears 6.

Source: Giant Bomb