Hogwarts legacy developer quits after YouTube channel backlash

Troy Leavitt, the game developer at the center of a controversy last month after it was discovered that he had run “a reactionary YouTube channel focused on attacking feminism and social justice,” resigned his position at Avalanche Software, the developers of the next Harry potter Thu Hogwarts Legacy.

Leavitt announced his decision to “part ways” with Avalanche in a series of tweets:

As we reported in February:

Among Leavitt’s videos … are long tusks of John Lasseter, the Pixar co-founder who quit his job at Disney in 2017 after allegations of sexual misconduct, and Nolan Bushnell, the Atari co-founder who, according to Kotaku reports, fostered a toxic work environment for women. In some of her videos, Leavitt expressed support for Gamergate, a movement that has promoted harassment against women and other minorities in the gaming industry, and criticized Anita Sarkeesian’s Tropes vs Women series as a “Uninformed marginal position”. Leavitt discussed his views on Gamergate in depth during an interview in 2017, saying, “Gamergate, while painful at times, has on the whole turned out to be a good thing.”

As a result of this revelation, and continued opposition to Potter the transphobic views of author JK Rowling, it was reported last week, the game will offer some “gender-related customization options”.

Asked for comment, publisher Warner Bryou. tell Kotaku “Senior producer Troy Leavitt has made the decision to leave Avalanche Software.”