1mo ago

Reviewers including No Pun Included, Shut Up & Sit Down boycott Codenames publisher CGE for releasing new Harry Potter game while ignoring JK Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric

Reviewers including No Pun Included, Shut Up & Sit Down boycott Codenames publisher CGE for releasing new Harry Potter game while ignoring JK Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric -

Games @lemmy.world

bignose @ttrpg.network

1mo ago

Game reviewers boycott publisher CGE, for publishing more Harry Potter branded products

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/

18 comments

I am a huge fan of CGE, but I was really disappointed when I saw the announcement about the Harry Potter game. I will no longer be stocking their games in my shop as long as they are publishing her garbage.
- I have immense respect for the fact that you're willing to actually take a hit to your business for the sake of standing up for what's right. It's easy to boycott a product or a producer, it's much harder to do what you're doing.
  
  Years ago I pulled all of the Hamper Potter merchandise off my shop's shelves and dropped it at a thrift store. I considered the trash, but did not want it to end up in the land fill. I realize my shop had already paid for it, and Jo already made her money. But I did not want the optics of her shit on my shelves. Yes, a lot of people ask for HP merch, and yes I give them an earful when they do, no I am not ashamed.
- https://bsky.app/profile/pandybird.bsky.social/post/3luskvpiq222s
  
  "We know many people around the world share the same sentiment about this universe, even among those who have been hurt by the public views and actions of its creator."
  How is this not a reason to not do this, unless it's just ofr the profits...
They are clearly hoping that people who aren't really aware of JK Rowling’s actions buy the game anyway. Otherwise, they wouldn't be doubling down. However, in the long term, I can see this decision hurting them quite a bit, so let's see if it pays off...
- They were my favorite publisher. No hyperbole, Vlaada is my favorite designer and I own more CGE games than any other publisher. I replied to their announcement, "Sad to see CGE funding the anti trans legal movement through JK Rowling. I can't in good conscience buy anything more from CGE as long as this is happening." Their response was to block me, and many others who leveled thoughtful criticism. I'm not sure they would be capable of repairing my feelings about them. That response and their continuing refusal to engage with the fact that the money Rowling makes from this game will be used to hurt a vulnerable community are really hurtful.
  I'm not going to get rid of the games I have, but I won't be giving them any more money nor will I recommend their games to anyone else.
- Nah quarterly profits bro. Who cares what happens next year! all that exists is next quarter baby
  
  I've heard of CEOs who made the mistake of buying cocaine for future quarters, and never getting to enjoy it.
Really poor decision to block any critics on social media.
Unsure what to think on this. Harry Potter as a franchise and the products itself aren't transphobic, and how much JKR and the artist and their art are to be connected is up for every individual. Declaring the Harry Potter franchise a "NoGo zone for anyone pro trans" is doing more harm than good. There were streamers viciously attacked just for streaming Hogwart's Legacy while trying to secure funds for trans organizations. Creating a fandom where outed pro-trans people will be squished by both sides.
The discussion is poisoned and after the Hogwart's Legacy fiasco, where way too many pro-diversity people received attacks, going down this path doesn't bode well. And lots of it is a low-hanging fruit people go for some virtue signaling. The boycott declared here doubtfully matters to those voicing it out. At the same time I go to local merchandise, geek and book stores which are filled with various Harry Potter gear, don't seem to get any meaningful attention, while making likely much more money than this. Furthering my belief, that the intentions are empty, which in turn wouldn't surprise me, as actual trans people are one of the tinies minorities out there and probably don't even have the majority inside these groups.
Attacking the products behind this, also attacks the collective workers and teams behind it, which create them hopefully with peaceful intentions and messages for a multitude of cultures.
Rowling receiving royalties on them isn't the mean evil. It is one small drop of a currently nepotistic, capitalistic, plutocratic society we live in. Single people should not have all that power to them with bigger wallets, influencing society like this. More money from Rowling, as with any other rich personas, should drain more aggressively to democratic institutions.
- The company actually followed up on this and reponded that they would donate all profits to charities
  https://bsky.app/profile/czechgames.com/post/3lvw44k6vzs2u
  A statement to the community addressing our announcement of the new licensed version of Codenames & our next steps.
  We are all devastated that the project we were so excited to share with you caused harm instead of joy. We have been working to bring you the best possible games for years, and just like our other titles, we worked diligently to bring you this latest title, too.
  In our excitement about creating a game within a universe many of us still treasure, we failed to see how that universe no longer brings joy to others. Over time, the harmful views of the story's creator have escalated into harmful actions. We apologize unreservedly for not doing more to consider that possibility, and for subsequently announcing the game without taking preemptive actions to mitigate the pain it would cause.
  Many of you have expressed your understandable anger, pain, and disappointment through a variety of platforms. Frankly, we were not prepared for the volume of the response. As a result, multiple accounts and comments were blocked or muted that should not have been. We would never want anyone experiencing the pain this situation has caused to then feel like they are being silenced. So for that, too, we want to sincerely apologize.
  Like the world we live in, CGE is made up of individuals with various backgrounds, gender identities, sexual orientations, and belief systems. None of us would ever want to take actions that would hurt or restrict the rights of another human being. We commit to remaining supportive of an inclusive and welcoming community of gamers. We believe in the rights of all people to have their own identity, and we reject hate and bigotry in all their forms. Trans rights are human rights.
  With the above in mind, and after many heartfelt and vital discussions both internally and with members of the affected community, we have decided to donate 100% of the profit from this game to appropriate charitable organizations. We will ensure that an amount equal to or greater than the fee paid to license this product will go directly to organizations that provide support for the trans community.
  We evaluate profits and make charitable-giving decisions each December, and we will continue using this annual process to direct the game's profits. We will listen to recommendations from the community to help guide our choices of organizations that provide support for the trans community. Our goal is to select those that offer direct, practical help to people in need — for example, services similar to the emergency hotline that was recently discontinued.
  At CGE, we are committed to making decisions that come from the heart in everything we do. We opened discussions with members of the affected communities and we came together as a whole company to find a way forward that was a genuine reflection of our values and desire to do the right thing. We are sorry for the time it took us to communicate our path forward, but we hope you see that we did so with the care and consideration that you all deserve.

18 comments