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Credit: Warner Bros.The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has made some surprising changes.
JK Rowling is the mastermind behind the incredibly popular and indisputably iconic Wizarding World franchise. Starting life as a series of children’s books, the magic soon made its way onto the silver screen where it gave rise to the pop culture phenomenon dubbed “Potter-Mania.”
The eight films spawned waves of merchandise, three spinoffs (the Fantastic Beasts trilogy), and several Harry Potter experiences, from London’s Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.
More recently, we got the third-person open-world video game “Hogwarts Legacy” (2023). And now, a brand-new reboot is in the works, which is being developed as a television series made up of seven seasons, with each one based on one of the seven books by JK Rowling.
However, another Harry Potter reboot has already arrived, and it features language that’s seemingly at odds with JK Rowling’s divisive gender-critical views, which have been condemned by several Harry Potter actors including Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Developed by Unbroken Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey label, the new online multiplayer video game “Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions”, which is a modern remake of 2003’s “Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup,” includes the use of “they/them” pronouns for its customizable characters for the purpose of the game’s narrator system.
Though it may not be the case, this suggests Rowling has had no involvement with, or control over the game, which was the case with “Hogwarts Legacy,” as stated on the website. It is, however, entirely possible that she was aware, and may have even approved of the use of these pronouns.
Either way, with the game’s surprising inclusion of non-binary language marking a huge step forward for fans of the franchise who are also members and/or supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, many are celebrating like the entire Wizarding World did when Tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort disappeared after killing James and Lily Potter in Godric’s Hollow, taking aim at Rowling in the process.
Related: HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Could Finally Embrace Dumbledore’s Sexuality
On X (formerly Twitter), many “Potterheads” are jumping with joy at the fact that a Harry Potter video game features the use of “they/them” pronouns.
@gutz_n_g0r3 wants to “see the outrage JK Rowling might have over” the inclusion of they/them pronouns in the game:
i wanna see the outrage j.k rowling might have over this
i wanna see the outrage j.k rowling might have over this
— miles🍃 (@gutz_n_g0r3) September 7, 2024
@pria_princess says they don’t mind whether “JK Rowling shuts this game down” or that the game remains active, as the author will “suffer” either way. Although either scenario is unlikely to cause even a tiny dent in Rowling’s massive, Gringotts-worthy fortune:
lmao so either jk rowling shuts this game down or the game releases anyways and she has to deal with it and both work of me because she suffers
lmao so either jk rowling shuts this game down or the game releases anyways and she has to deal with it
and both work of me because she suffers
— Firefly Pria (@pria_princess) September 7, 2024
@Davidwblake52 says that “nothing connected to Rowling will ever be acceptable” and that it’s unlikely she “gave the pronouns her go-ahead anyway”:
Sorry nothing connected to Rowling will ever be acceptable to me, however they try and regain #lgbtq acceptance! I doubt she gave the pronouns her go ahead anyway.
Sorry nothing connected to Rowling will ever be acceptable to me, however they try and regain #lgbtq acceptance! I doubt she gave the pronouns her go ahead anyway.
— David Blake 🏴🏳️🌈🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@Davidwblake52) September 7, 2024
@LiamTheDeathBat calls JK a “massive TERF” (which means “trans-exclusionary radical feminist,” a group that doesn’t acknowledge trans-women as women) and that they “just know she is seething”:
So I’ve been very addicted to the new Quidditch Champions game but the best part is, JK being a massive terf and you can have they/them pronouns and basically every possible character creation looks like a twink I just know she is seething
So I’ve been very addicted to the new Quidditch Champions game but the best part is, JK being a massive terf and you can have they/them pronouns and basically every possible character creation looks like a twink 😂🤣 I just know she is seething
— ♤ EasyEight ♤ (@LiamTheDeathBat) September 6, 2024
“Somewhere in a mouldy shack in Edinburgh, a lone scream rings out,” jokes @JordanMiddler, referring, of course, to the author:
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions features the option to use They/Them pronouns. Somewhere in a mouldy shack in Edinburgh, a lone scream rings out.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions features the option to use They/Them pronouns.
Somewhere in a mouldy shack in Edinburgh, a lone scream rings out. pic.twitter.com/JQLjMBdFmt
— Jordan Middler (@JordanMiddler) September 3, 2024
However, not everyone is happy with the use of they/them pronouns in the game. @TheDeathanist calls the game “woke” and that it doesn’t have much “white inclusion”:
[edited for accuracy and clarity] so tried the new #QuidditchChampions game, it’s your typical woke game, pronouns, lacking any real character creation, most pre-sets are either female or people of color with very little white inclusion, female led of course, and yeah boring gameplay that isn’t gripping and meh grafx 4/10
so tried the new #QuidditchChampions game,its your typical woke game,pronouns,lacking any real character creation,most presets are either female or people of color with very little white inclusion,female led ofcourse,and yeah boring gameplay that isnt gripping and meh grafx 4/10
— The Deathanist (@TheDeathanist) September 5, 2024
It’s fast becoming the norm for Harry Potter video games to create online discourse. Last year’s “Hogwarts Legacy” was boycotted for its affiliations with JK Rowling (although she was not involved with the creation of that game). However, focusing strictly on the quality of the game itself, the latest title knocks the Golden Snitch out of the park.
Watch the gameplay trailer for “Quidditch Champions” below, per Harry Potter YouTube:
Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Reboot May Be Canon With the Film Series After All
Per Warner Bros. Games, “Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions” features “iconic wizarding world locations, characters, and references that fans will love” while highlighting “the rush of flying across legendary arenas as either a Beater, Chaser, Keeper or Seeker in a variety of modes,” all the while “playing as — or against — iconic characters such as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and many other quintessential characters.”
The game was released on September 3 for PC Games, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
Visit the official website to find out more about “Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.”
Will you be playing “Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions”? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!