In 2018, a new Harry Potter game leaked. No one knew where it came from, no one really knew when it was coming. It was starting to look like the game would never see the light of day. But out of nowhere, WB revealed Hogwarts Legacy at the recent PS5 event.
Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world RPG set in the wizarding world during the 1800s. It’ll provide players the chance to sink themselves into the shoes of a student at the fantastical school of Hogwarts. You can learn the mystic arts, explore the Forbidden Forest, and visit all-new locations.
There even appears to be a morality system based on a description of the game from the official website.
“Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. You have received a late acceptance to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and soon discover that you are no ordinary student: you possess an unusual ability to perceive and master Ancient Magic. Only you can decide if you will protect this secret for the good of all, or yield to the temptation of more sinister magic.”
Developer Avalanche is not adapting any books or films with Hogwarts Legacy. They have instead opted to expand on the world we already know.
“The Portkey Games label gave us a unique opportunity to return to Hogwarts during a different era. We are always asking ourselves how we can draw from the rich library of characters, creatures, and themes – and imagine how those details would influence the school more than a century before Harry Potter’s arrival,” said Head of Story, Adrian Ropp.
“Who was the headmaster? What challenges did students face? What influenced their society before Tom Riddle, before Newt Scamander? I like to say that what we are giving fans is something familiar in a way they have never seen.”
Hogwarts Legacy is coming to current-gen but is also going to harness the power of next-gen.
“This is an exciting time to develop immersive experiences – the new opportunities provided by the PS5 are literal game-changers. With innovative high definition graphics, a player can practically feel the terror of Inferi bearing down upon them, sense the ground rumbling beneath them as a herd of angry centaurs surrounds them. Even dueling against a deadly dark witch takes on a new level of realism thanks to the controller’s ability to imbue sound and touch into every moment,” said Ropp.
Hogwarts Legacy will be a single-player game, so there’s no need to fear about any MMO elements. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling is uninvolved but has entrusted WB Games to take care of the brand.
Hogwarts Legacy will release in 2021 on both current-gen and next-gen consoles as well as PC.
