Hogwarts Legacy: Everything we know so far

The wait is finally over: the long-rumored open-world game set in the Harry Potter universe is here, and it’s called Hogwarts Legacy. Set long before the events of the books, you won’t find any of the students or teachers that fans love over the years, but it looks to offer a brand new way to explore the iconic wizarding school Hogwarts.

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Details are still thin, but we’ve collected everything we know so far into this handy Hogwarts Legacy guide. We’ll also frequently update it as more news comes out, so be sure to check back regularly for the latest!

What is Hogwarts Legacy?

Hogwarts Legacy is an upcoming action RPG game set in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Rumors about an open-world Harry Potter game first came out more than two years ago, but it wasn’t until the September 16 PlayStation 5 event that the game was first officially revealed. Check out the official reveal trailer in full 4K quality above.

In Hogwarts Legacy you play as a student admitted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Unlike previous games, your character is admitted late (around 5th year), but you will still get to experience the Sorting Hat in some fashion.

The game starts out like other games, learning the ins and outs of magic in classes. However, it quickly becomes apparent that your character has a special link to ancient magic hidden deep within the school itself. It’s up to you to stop this power from tearing apart the Wizarding World — or take advantage of it to further your own power.

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What is the Hogwarts Legacy release date?

The Hogwarts Legacy release date was originally slated for 2021. However, it was then delayed in early 2021 for an undetermined 2022 date. Beyond that, we don’t know exactly when it will be available, but we’ll update this article as soon as further details are revealed.

What is Hogwarts Legacy gameplay like?

Like many of the previous games set in the Harry Potter universe, Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player action RPG where you control a fledgling wizard at Hogwarts. However, it takes place in the late 1800s, long before Harry, Hermione, Ron, or their parents enroll at the school.

This setting gives the game a lot more freedom to tell new stories, rather than rehashing the events of the books. Even the teachers should be new characters, with the exception of maybe a few older characters like Dumbledore. It seems like the game could have multiple endings, but hopefully it reveals more about the history of Hogwarts itself.

As for the gameplay itself, it will mostly consist of exploring Hogwarts and the surrounding areas, unveiling the mysteries of some of the Wizarding World’s most famous locations. It’s not yet clear to what extent areas outside of the school like Diagon Alley will be playable, but the trailer shows areas well beyond the walls of the school.

Can I choose my house?

Yes! Portkey Games has promised that players will be able to choose their house at the start of Hogwarts Legacy, although you may not be able to change it afterward. Hopefully we get more details on this soon.

Does it have Quidditch?

Portkey Games hasn’t announced whether or not the game will feature Quidditch, but there are brooms in the trailer so we’re hopeful that it will. It would fit well with the open-world nature of the game, but we’ll update this article as soon as more details are revealed.

Is Hogwarts Legacy PS5 only?

No! Hogwarts Legacy will release on the PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S next-gen consoles, as well as PC, PS4, and Xbox One. That means you won’t need to upgrade to the latest consoles to play.

However, it looks like Hogwarts Legacy will not be coming to the Nintendo Switch or Google Stadia. We should have more details about support when the game is closer to release.

Will it have 2-player gameplay?

For now, it’s looking like Hogwarts Legacy is a purely single-player affair. You’ll have to get your Harry Potter co-op fix from the older games in the universe.

Who developed Hogwarts Legacy?

Hogwarts Legacy is being developed by Avalanche Software, which has been working on Disney games for more than a decade. In fact, they were acquired by Disney in 2017.

The game will be published by Portkey Games, which has published many other Harry Potter games in recent years.

Was JK Rowling involved in the story of Hogwarts Legacy?

If a recent report from Bloomberg is to be believed, JK Rowling has very little involvement in the development of games in the Harry Potter Universe. She is always involved to some extent, but considering Hogwarts Legacy won’t feature many of her characters, it’s unlikely that she played much of a role.

JK Rowling has made herself a controversial figure in recent months, which has damped some fan’s excitement for the game. Those wishing to boycott her work should avoid all Harry Potter properties, including this game.