pnutbutterprincess 💙 she/her<p>Is it going too far to unfriend and unfollow anyone playing <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/hogfarts" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>hogfarts</span></a> TERF game? </p><p>I don't think so. I have unfollowed several streamers and cut two from my steam friends. I'm not trans, but I have trans friends and comrades struggling under the transphobic governments in both the US and the UK, where I'm most aware of the harmful legislature being pushed on us. Supporters of these measures are only further fueled by the hateful rhetoric of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Rowling" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Rowling</span></a> and other TERFS like her.</p><p>A single purchase of this AAA luxury video game does not support her single-handedly, but she receives royalties from every sale. And the release of a franchise game means more people purchasing merchandise and other licensed materials, all of which additionally will send royalties her way.</p><p>The more you support, platform, and make excuses for this game, the more others will be encouraged to purchase it, and other franchise merchandise. If you don't think you can live without it (questionable, given how many other games exist, made by less hateful people, trans people, BIPOC and other diverse people, and best of all - many indie games are less than half the price of the TERF game), at least pirate it, don't talk about it, and DON'T stream it. If you really want to be an ally, just DON'T.</p><p>This isn't even mentioning the antisemitism which was always there in the books and is now even more prominent in the game. The harmful stereotypes were likely not as noticeable to readers who recall the series with a rosy nostalgia, but they are there, and glaring when examined through today's lens. Appreciate that the series meant a lot to you at one point, treasure those memories, and let that part of your past stay where it is, in the past.</p>