Publisher of Harry Potter board game to donate 100% of profits to trans charities
Czech Games Edition (CGE), the publisher behind the board game Codenames, has announced that it will donate 100% of the profits from its Harry Potter-themed edition, Codenames: Back to Hogwarts, to charities supporting trans communities. The decision comes in response to widespread criticism over the company’s licensing of the Harry Potter brand, given author J.K. Rowling’s controversial views on gender identity.
In a statement released on 8 August, CGE expressed regret over the pain caused by the game’s association with Rowling’s intellectual property. “We are all devastated that the project we were so excited to share with you caused harm instead of joy,” the company said. “We apologise 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.”
The publisher pledged that all proceeds from the game will go to “appropriate charitable organisations” that offer direct, practical support to trans individuals. CGE also committed to ensuring that the amount donated will be equal to or greater than the licensing fee paid to use the Harry Potter brand.
The announcement follows intense backlash from both fans and industry professionals. The Tabletop Game Designers Association (TTGDA) condemned the partnership, citing Rowling’s “extreme anti-trans rhetoric” and the harm it has caused. Influential reviewers and creators, including Shut Up & Sit Down, No Pun Included, and designer Eric Lang, have joined a boycott of CGE products, accusing the publisher of financially supporting a figure whose views have been widely criticised as transphobic.
