Games Done Quick has banned Hogwarts Legacy and all games in the Harry Potter Franchise from future events. The move is a change in direction for GDQ, which has previously allowed Harry Potter games at the events.
The GDQ speedrunning marathons have grown exponentially since the first iteration in 2010. The latest event, Awesome Games Done Quick 2023, raised $2.6m for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. Alongside Summer Games Done Quick, the GDQ marathons have become staple parts of the calendar for the speedrunning community and have done a lot of good for charity. While the positive charity work GDQ has done is undeniable, it has also contributed to a huge growth in interest in speedrunning. While the marathons take place, they're often among the most-viewed streams on Twitch, bringing eyes to the community that otherwise may have been unaware of its existence.
The news comes from the GDQ submission guidelines, as players begin to submit their runs for Summer Games Done Quick 2023. According to GDQ, the list of disallowed games is curated from "content, views, or an origin that we have deemed unsuitable for our stream." The Harry Potter games are generally tame in content, and many are assuming the ban has come as a result of author J.K. Rowling's outspoken views on the transgender community. While Rowling is not involved with Hogwarts Legacy, many players are still choosing to boycott the title, with her and the Harry Potter franchise undeniably linked.
The ban is sudden, and previously the Harry Potter PlayStation 1 titles have been allowed at the event. This ban may not be permanent, however. On the page, GDQ states that the bans on Harry Potter games are "Subject to further review in the future." With the new policy in place, players shouldn't expect to see the games at Summer Games Done Quick 2023, at the very least.
Despite the ban on Wizarding World games, the speedrunning community will remain excited about the next iteration of GDQ, with the upcoming Summer Games Done Quick 2023 coming in May. It remains to be seen how the events will change going forward, with GDQ founder Mike Uyama leaving the organization in January of this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the events in recent years have been held online, which has made the event more accessible for streamers worldwide. However, it is presumed that before long the events will begin to become in-person once again. With only one event left in 2023, this may not come into effect until 2024.
Source: Games Done Quick (via The Gamer)