Hogwarts Legacy, the new event video game related to the Harry Potter universe, was released this Friday, February 10 following many months of waiting for fans. But why is he so talked regarding? Explanations.
“Hogwarts Legacy” is the literal translation of the name “Hogwarts Legacy”, and already a good clue to its content. This video game released just a few days ago allows you to embody a young wizard from Hogwarts school, whom you may know if you are a fan of the “Harry Potter” series. But the big novelty is that the famous hero scarred with a scar in the shape of lightning is never present there.
The game’s scenario is not inspired by the books of JK Rowling’s saga either, but largely takes up the codes of her magical universe. Something to delight the biggest fans of the series, but also to attract new followers.
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Announced by the “Avalanche” studio for several years, the game was highly anticipated, especially since the first trailers were very promising. A few days following its release, all video game enthusiasts have only its name in their mouths, but it’s not always to say positive things regarding it
What reception does the game receive?
According to the first figures concerning the reception of the game, it is rather clear that the users were attracted by the concept. Even before its official release, on February 10, the title was well placed at the top of sales on the main online shopping platforms, in particular thanks to pre-orders which reached a staggering level. Video game analyst Benji Sales estimates that the game might hit 5 million sales in a single week and should be the best-selling game of the year.
Hogwarts Legacy already breaks a record when it hasn’t been released yet!
Yesterday he broke the record for the most-watched “solo game” on Twitch with over 1.3 million concurrent viewers.
While the game is only available for those who have the Deluxe Edition. pic.twitter.com/SwX2bIo0Nq
— JV – Video games (@JVCom) February 8, 2023
On the online broadcasting platform “Twitch”, which notably allows you to broadcast your video game games, Hogwarts Legacy even broke a record in the first week of its release. The game brought together no less than 1.3 million spectators simultaneously, very well ahead of any other license.
As for the feedback from the players, they are glowing to say the least. “I finished the main story of Hogwarts Legacy, and I’m saying it once more here, the game is really great, enthuses the videographer Jiraiya on his Twitter page. I had not had so much fun on a game for a long time. a long time !”
I finished the main story of #HogwartsLegacy and I’ll say it once more here, the game is really great, I haven’t seen the time pass. ud83dudd25
It’s going to go 100% now, I hadn’t had so much fun on a game for a long time. ?— Jiraya ~「ルドビック」 (@Jirayalecochon) February 10, 2023
“Hogwarts Legacy is magic! I go to bed with the excitement of playing once more tomorrow morning,” rejoices another. And across all review sites, the reactions are similar. The website jeuxvideo.comwell known to gamers, gave it the “magical” rating of 18 out of 20.
Why such a success ?
And if the game is so popular, it’s largely for its graphic quality. Impossible to remain indifferent to the videos of the game which suggest the possibility of flying on the back of magical creatures, or of discovering the tens, even the hundreds of rooms contained in the majestic castle of Hogwarts.
For fans, the visual success of this opus is a real relief. Because so far, the video game versions of the universe created by JK Rowling had not been very successful. The seven books in the series had all been entitled to their adaptations. If those of the very first opuses had left good memories to the fans, the following oscillated between the mediocre and the really bad.
This time, Hogwarts Legacy has brought together all the elements to convince its fans and become “the best game in the Harry Potter universe ever made to date”, according to jeuxvideo.com. Fans of books or films will find all the elements that made the charm of the series: fantastic creatures, magic formulas, broomstick flying or even the sumptuous banquets in the mythical Great Hall of Hogwarts. All in the skin of your own character that you can create from head to toe.
But it is not a game reserved for fans of the Harry Potter saga, and it is not for nothing that the developers have chosen to part with the eponymous hero. Hogwarts Legacy is above all a real adventure game that can guarantee hours of broom rides for any nature getaway lover. It also offers interesting puzzles or very advanced combat phases. A good way for the uninitiated to discover this universe in another way.
Why is it controversial despite everything?
The game is a real success, so it seems indisputable. And yet, in recent days, it is not necessarily for its scriptwriting quality or for the variety of activities offered. It is a call for a boycott of the game that has created controversy on social networks.
It’s not really the game itself that is in question, but rather the one who is at the origin, namely the author JK Rowling who wrote the 7 volumes of the Harry Potter series. In recent years, she has been singled out by part of the LGBT community for comments deemed discriminatory once morest the transgender community.
I ask that people, cis or not, who decide to play it, be aware that buying the game = financing the extreme right. Because even if JKterf did not write it, she will receive royalties. She herself said that buying this game = agreeing with her
– Antagoniste.ig (@Antagoniste15) February 11, 2023
Originally, it was one of his tweets that caused the annoyance of fans. In particular, she mocked the use in an article of the term “menstruating” used rather than the word “women” by some activists so as not to exclude transsexual people. She has also repeatedly held positions supporting the superiority of biological sex over chosen gender.
Since the release of the game, calls for a boycott have therefore multiplied, dividing the so-called “Potterhead” community. “Buy Hogwarts Legacy, it’s financing a eugenicist transphobe who actively militates once morest trans people, so it’s a transphobic purchase”, estimates a tweet quoted by BFM TV. The specialized site “Gamekult” has even decided not to make articles on the subject for this reason.
Others, like the youtubeur Newtiteuf, believe that these calls for a boycott are excessive. “Yes, I play Hogwarts Legacy. No, I don’t support a transphobe. Don’t be intimidated by those extremists who think they’re dictating decorum to you.”
Yes I play #HogwartsLegacy.
Yes I am in what is called the LGBT community.
No, I don’t “support” a transphobe.Don’t be intimidated by those Twitter extremists who think they’re dictating decorum. [1/3]
— Julien / Newtiteuf (@Newtiteuf) February 7, 2023
For the moment, these controversies do not really seem to have an impact on the success of the game. But the controversies are starting to date and seem to be gaining momentum over time. The future will tell if they are decisive for the rest of the Hogwarts Legacy saga