As WB Games and Avalanche Software get ready for the release of Hogwarts Legacy next week, they’ve released the game’s launch trailer into the wild. The Hogwarts Legacy release date is set for 10th February 2023 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch coming later this year.
Set in the 1800s, Hogwarts Legacy cast you as a newly enrolled student at Hogwarts, though one that’s joining in the fifth year. Perhaps unsurprisingly, you’re extra special and are able to tap into an ancient form of magic that is being awoken in a way that could alter the future of the Wizarding World.
When you start, you’ll create your own wizard and then be sorted into a house of your choosing. You’re actually starting Hogwarts late as a fifth year, so you’ll have some catching up to do in regard to attending classes such as Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Potions. You’ll also get to hang out in the common rooms and try to make friends, who could then become companions to join you on your adventure. Of course, as an action RPG, you can upgrade and master your abilities, earning experience and specialising your character.
The game features an all-star cast for the various characters you’ll meet along the way.
Avalanche Software is developing the game, however, it has faced several challenges. Warner Bros. has had to navigate ongoing backlash from JK Rowling’s transphobic comments which caused many fans to reconsider their support for the franchise. Additionally, the game’s development has been complicated by the fallout of the COVID pandemic, which has greatly affected the wider gaming industry.
Hogwarts Legacy has been delayed several times over the last few years. Having been rumoured for years leading up to its 2020 reveal, Hogwarts Legacy was originally expected to release in 2021, but just a couple of weeks into 2021, it was delayed. Earlier this year, they pencilled in a ‘Holiday 2022’ launch, but we know how that went…
Now the game has a peculiar staggered release across different generations, as follows:
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S & PC – 10th February 2023 with 72 hour early access from 7th Febraury
- PlayStation 4 and Xbox One – 4th April 2023
- Nintendo Switch – 25th July 2023
Source: press releease
Anubis2097
Every single article about this game on TSA mentions “JK Rowling’s transphobic comments”. The graphics, the gameplay, the specs each contain a mention. The whole team working on this game have nothing to do with her, so if you believe she is transphobic or not then it should have no effect on your decision to purchase this game.
Stefan L
We believe it’s worth mentioning, and as such it’s in our adapted boilerplate section of these news stories, alongside other context for the game’s development.
While Rowling might not have had a direct part in the game’s development, WB has not gone beyond that to discuss the financial arrangement. However, the game is based on her intellectual property, and as such she will receive royalties in some fashion from this – percentage of each sale, upfront payment, royalties from expected boost in other media profits.
So yes, it can and will have an effect on many people’s decision to buy the game or not. It’s entirely up to the individual to make that judgement.