Game reviewers boycott publisher CGE, for publishing more Harry Potter branded products
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.
That statement also immediately came under fire online for its attempt to separate the art from the artist, while failing to address that Rowling – a dollar billionaire thanks to Harry Potter – has used financial proceeds from her creation to directly fund organisations attempting to strip trans people of their rights.
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/07/29/reviewers-including-no-pun-included-shut-up-sit-down-boycott-codenames-publisher-cge-for-releasing-new-harry-potter-game-while-ignoring-jk-rowlings-anti-trans-rhetoric/Open linkView original on ttrpg.network
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.
Legacy literally has an explicitly trans npc in it.
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?
Allegedly Rowling was not involved in the game at all. I'd think of it as an act of goodwill from the developers.
You're required to meet her in the game, so it's not like anything was snuck in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8k8DseLCl8
Historically, HP fans have proven to have bad taste in media.
Well, for one, we're talking about adults who are still obsessed with a series of children's books, so....
Well see, they dont want to be adults yet.
Its not a fun game all the time, or predictable. Its a control freaks nightmare absolutely. I'm not really sure anyone's having a fantastic time across the board.
I thought it was great. Yeah, it doesn't break any new ground, but it's a solid Harry Potter-universe adventure game. It gets bonus points for being developed by a studio near where I live. My kids love HP and we enjoyed playing through it together, in fact, one of my kids made their own account and beat it before me.
The main opposition I see to it is being affiliated w/ JK Rowling, nothing bad about the game itself, other than features they wish it had.
Good. And I hope HBO faces similar backlash over the new Harty Potter TV series.
Oh no... anyways...