Hogwarts Legacy: Everything to know about the action-role playing game

Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive open-world game with a focus on action and role-playing elements. For the first time in series history, players could experience the mysterious Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry set in the 1800s.
The title is under development by Avalanche Software, the creators of games such as 'Cars 3: Driven to Win', and 'Disney Infinity.' With Warner Bros. Games in the publishers seat under the Portkey Games label.
The developers announced the wizarding game at the PlayStation 5 showcase in September 2020. Providing an official reveal trailer that showcased many of the exciting activities and notable gameplay elements that the title boasts of.

Hogwarts Legacy Release date is set

First unveiled during the September 2020 PS5 event, the game's reveal trailer showcased a 2021 release window. The announcement received tremendous fanfare from across the world. Significantly, the prospect of exploring the Hogwarts environs with your own custom character thrilled fans. However, in a Twitter post from the Hogwarts Legacy team, the game's release was delayed to 2022.

The post noted "Creating the best possible experience for all of the Wizarding World and gaming fans is paramount to us so we are giving the game the time it needs."?

The Hogwarts Legacy website subsequently quoted Holiday 2022 as the target release date for the game. With publications like PC Gamer interpreting that to likely mean November or December 2022 across various platforms.

Plot of Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is an open world single-player adventure set in the wizarding world. Chiefly, the developers have not directly adapted the books and films, as Portkey Games rarely do. But the game stays firmly rooted in the magical world. As such, the game is an original story set in the 1800s wizarding world. Avalanche Software notes in a blog post that the game's time period was chosen to "ensure your legend is never overshadowed by any other hero."?

According to PC Gamer, players take the role of a student attending the prestigious institute in the late 1890, attending classes and learning magic. "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"

The studio's blog post also adds that the player's character is a celebrity at the school because they are starting as a fifth year student. Furthermore, the player's ties to the ancient magic puts them in confrontation with a goblin rebellion led by Ranrok. Aiding the rebellion is Dark wizard Victor Rookwood; however, they share a tenuous relationship because of Rankrok's hatred for wizards.

Your character embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the hidden truths of this world aided by mentor and friend Professor Eleazar Fig.

Hogwarts Legacy Game Play and Game Setup

The game's website claims the in-game world is filled with immersive magic. As players learn from their professors and classmates their abilities would grow. Garnering new spells and abilities to utilise in both combat and puzzles throughout the title. Significantly, fans have the option of choosing a combat style according to their preference. Those interested in going wands blazing would find the Accio and Incendio spell combo useful. However, those that prefer a stealthier approach would be interested in a silent Petrificus Totalus takedown.

The game gives players a plethora of gameplay styles and approaches to choose from. Additionally, a range of difficulty options ensures you only have to deal with as much pressure as you'd like. Players can also rely on items such as Wiggenweld potions for healing and Mandrake seedlings to incapacitate enemies with its cry. Another interesting feature of the game is NPC companions that aid you in your journey.

As per IGN, the game will release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch.

Characters in the Game: Will we see Harry Potter in Hogwarts Legacy?

Fans shouldn't hold their breath to see the Boy Who Lived appear in the game. The developers set Hogwarts Legacy in the 1800s so that players can be free of the shadow of such overarching characters. Giving them the freedom to create their own legacy. However, a downside of that decision is that fan-favorite characters like Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley would not be part of the world.

Avalanche's title is set before the time of J.K. Rowling?s original stories. Although players could still design a custom character to look like the franchise protagonist in that character creator. But in terms of characters from the books or movies, they are likely to be few and far between. Although the gameplay reveal showed a student chatting up Nearly Headless Nick the ghost, so some other ghost cameos might be in order.

What is Portkey Games?

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has released several mobile game experiences under the Portkey Games label. These include Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, Hogwarts Mystery, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and Harry Potter: Puzzles and Spells. Portkey Games is dedicated to creating fresh Wizarding World mobile and video game experiences that put the player at the crux of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling?s original stories.

Significantly, it offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and discover unique experiences. Wizarding World's website notes the inspiration behind the publisher's name comes from the portkeys that transport wizards from place to place. David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment said

"With Portkey Games, we are thrilled to answer the fans? requests for more games inspired by J.K. Rowling?s Wizarding World"

Locations and Stages we will see in Hogwarts Legacy

Fans can explore several locations that would trigger their nostalgia for the series. Although the time period cuts back the chances of seeing familiar faces, prominent locations have stood the test of time. And with the game's emphasis on exploration players can rest assured there would be many paths to take and places to discover. These include-

Hogwarts Castle

This castle is the titular location players would spend a lot of time in. The reveal trailer featured the expansive great hall and gave fans a preview of the exterior walls of the castle. With Avalanche's blog post stating the game showcases a "fully explorable Hogwarts replete with secrets to discover and mysteries to unravel".?Additionally, it mentions places like the Great Hall, clocktower and hospital wing alongside new places such as bustling kitchens.

Hogsmeade

Another location that may play a pivotal role during the game is the nearby village of Hogsmeade. Players could buy potion ingredients and outfits for their characters here. The PlayStation blog post says "Hogsmeade is home to enchanting new characters with rich stories and personalities of their own, as well as vendors who will provide supplies you need for your schooling and other adventures."

Forbidden Forest

The reveal trailer also showcases a student confronting Dark Wizards during a venture into the Forbidden Forest. Another iconic location from the series. The blog post notes how part of the charm of the game is seeing familiar locations in a new light, such as "seeing the Forbidden Forest in the daylight".

But it's also important to note that the developers have placed an emphasis on giving players new locations to discover. "...to see what lies around and beyond the Black Lake, to meet new witches and wizards in the dwellings that dot the landscape beyond Hogsmeade and learn what other undiscovered chambers lie within Hogwarts or scattered across the Scottish Highlands"

Will the 2022 RPG remind us of Harry Potter Series?

The game's website claims "Each experience offered under Portkey Games will take place in the wizarding world and will be authentic to it." Hence players would get to experience familiar environs in the magical world they love and appreciate. While the game's chronological setting makes it tough to expect many familiar faces to make an appearance from across the franchise, it'll definitely remind them of their adventures because of the various locations.

However, Hogwarts Legacy is a stand-alone adventure that seeks to tell a fresh story which isn't adapting the Harry Potter books and movies. So the game should be played and judged on its own merit rather than under the shadow of previous entries in the series. This game focuses on the player's adventures and journey while placing them in the world of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hogwarts Legacy details