Some of board gaming’s biggest and most influential reviewers are boycotting Codenames publisher Czech Games Edition, after the company decided to release a new Harry Potter-themed version of the game despite years of anti-trans campaigning from the character’s creator, JK Rowling.
CGE faced an immediate online backlash after unveiling Codenames: Back to Hogwarts on social media site BlueSky on July 23, with the announcement receiving hundreds of responses attacking the decision before the Codenames account locked comments, and switched off the function allowing users to share the post alongside their own remarks.
The continued online criticism intensified two days later when CGE released a short statement attempting to justify its decision to release the game – which was panned for going out of its way to avoid mentioning Harry Potter or JK Rowling by name.
duchess@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
If Hogwarts Legacy told me anything, it’s that this unfortunately accomplishes nothing and most HP fans in the best case either don’t care or in the worst case even align with JKRs views.
AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
In this case though, it’s professional reviewers who are boycotting CGE, the publisher. Reviews are pretty important in the boardgame industry as a form of marketing, so this does have the potential to accomplish something.
duchess@feddit.org 3 weeks ago
Let‘s hope
ch00f@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Legacy literally has an explicitly trans npc in it.
Lairo@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
That’s just weird. Why? Did someone actually believe that’d be enough to get people on side? Considering her reputation, that’s not a decision made on a whim. Did someone sneak it in under Joanne’s nose or did she just not give a fuck?