The latest details about Hogwarts Legacy's open-world wizarding RPG.
The world of school-aged wizards is getting its largest videogame adaptation in quite a while with Portkey Games' upcoming Hogwarts Legacy. The magic school adventure will place players a couple centuries back in wizarding history, taking place in the late 19th century before Harry and most of the book's characters were born aside from, perhaps, a rather young Dumbledore. With a buffer of a century and a half to work with, Hogwarts Legacy should enjoy the creative freedom to tell a wizarding story fully its own.
Hogwarts Legacy will release on February 10, 2023. Despite the conventional wisdom about wizards arriving precisely when they mean to, Hogwarts Legacy has undergone two delays—the first pushed its intended release out of 2021 and into 2022, and the most recent knocked its holiday 2022 release window into the first quarter of 2023.
This hefty gameplay overview from November 2022 is a broad-scope showcase of what Hogwarts Legacy has to offer. The fifty-ish minutes of footage kick off with a look at the character creation options, before moving into a brief tour of Hogwarts's premises as they looked in the 1800s.
Finally, we're offered a taste of Hogwarts Legacy combat. Evidently, spellcasting students in the 19th century measured their wizard battles with damage numbers and combo meters.
The initial reveal trailer for Hogwarts Legacy gave us just a brief look at what the big wizarding RPG would involve, but it definitely made clear what a pretty game it's going to be. From the initial trailer we saw just a bit of combat and lore, though we now know a lot more about both.
The Hogwarts Legacy official gameplay overview from March in 2022 gave us our first proper look at gameplay and mechanics, from combat spellcasting to broom-mounted traversal. Also: centaurs.
At Opening Night Live in 2022, Hogwarts Legacy showed off a new story trailer that took a look at the darker side of the magic arts. Here, Slytherin student Sebastian Sallow teaches the rest of the characters about curses for self defense and the conflict it starts with Hogwarts professors.
When it was first revealed, Portkey Games called Hogwarts Legacy an "immersive, open-world action RPG." The studio also explains that, "[Players] will grow their character’s abilities as they master powerful spells, hone combat skills and select companions to help them face off against deadly enemies," Portkey Games says. "Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will pose difficult choices and determine what they stand for."
From the lengthy gameplay reveal in March 2022, we've seen a lot more of what that actually means.
Portkey Games has shown off how you'll explore Hogwarts castle itself, solving puzzles with your spells and abilities to unlock secret rooms and dungeons. You'll also be able to fly around on your broom.
As a student, you'll also be attending classes like Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, or Potions. From what we've seen so far, some classes will involve interactive minigames.
it sure looks like there's going to be a lot of combat in Hogwarts Legacy. You may be just a student, but you'll be battling magical creatures, dueling your classmates, and fighting against ne'er-do-well adult wizards too.
You'll learn all sorts of spells for combat and the gameplay reveal showed off quite a lot of them. Some spells can stun enemies, pull them towards you, or toss them in the air. Elemental spells can summon fire for an area of effect. It all appears pretty action-y, spells and effects flying as you face several enemies at once armed mostly with your wand.
The Room of Requirement is a special room in Hogwarts castle that only appears to someone in great need of it. As a fifth year transfer student, apparently you qualify. The Room of Requirement appears to function as a sort of customizable base and crafting hub for your student.
Avalanche Software and Portkey Games say that Hogwarts Legacy follows the wizarding world lore set out in the original Harry Potter novels but is an original story from the studio, not written by J.K. Rowling.
You'll play as a student attending Hogwarts in the late 1890, attending classes and learning magic alongside other students. "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 says. "Only you can decide if you will protect this secret for the good of all, or yield to the temptation of more sinister magic."
There may not be familiar faces in Hogwarts Legacy due to the time period it's set in, but it looks like we can definitely expect some standard places. Avalanche say that it's an open world game, so there will likely be plenty of exploring to do in and out of the castle. Throughout your school year, seasons will come and go as you explore areas outside the castle as well.
Hogwarts Castle
It should come as no surprise that we'll be spending a lot of time in Hogwarts Castle itself as students. In the reveal trailer we got a good look at the expansive great hall and a look at the exterior we know so well too.
Hogsmeade
The nearby village of Hogsmeade seems like it's going to be prominent. Parts of the story will take place there, as will buying potion ingredients and outfits for your character.
Forbidden Forest
Also from the reveal trailer we can spot a venture into the Forbidden Forest where a student is fighting against those unknown dark wizards.
Portkey Games has explained that certain students in the story have their own personal stories that you can be involved with and that they'll eventually be able to accompany you around the world and in combat. Here's who we know about so far:
Natsai Onai: a Gryffindor and "a brave adventurer driven by the justice she seeks."
Poppy Sweeting: a Hufflepuff who has "a kind heart and loves magical beasts."
Sebastian Sallow: a Slytherin "unafraid of detention or breaking the rules."
Amit Thakkar: a Ravenclaw who's a "bright and well-read" aspiring wizard
"In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play."
Evening Standard: 4/5
"Bursting at the seams with hobbies to pick up."
Metro: 4/5
"[Has] a spark that’s long been missing from Harry Potter games."
Gamerant: 4/5
"Avalanche has cultivated a special atmosphere that will leave franchise fans completely engrossed."
Tom's Hardware: 4/5
"Hogwarts will justify the cost of entry alone for Potter fanatics."
The world of school-aged wizards is getting its largest videogame adaptation in quite a while with Portkey Games' upcoming Hogwarts Legacy. The magic school adventure will place players a couple centuries back in wizarding history, taking place in the late 19th century before Harry and most of the book's characters were born aside from, perhaps, a rather young Dumbledore. With a buffer of a century and a half to work with, Hogwarts Legacy should enjoy the creative freedom to tell a wizarding story fully its own.
Hogwarts Legacy will release on February 10, 2023. Despite the conventional wisdom about wizards arriving precisely when they mean to, Hogwarts Legacy has undergone two delays—the first pushed its intended release out of 2021 and into 2022, and the most recent knocked its holiday 2022 release window into the first quarter of 2023.
This hefty gameplay overview from November 2022 is a broad-scope showcase of what Hogwarts Legacy has to offer. The fifty-ish minutes of footage kick off with a look at the character creation options, before moving into a brief tour of Hogwarts's premises as they looked in the 1800s.
Finally, we're offered a taste of Hogwarts Legacy combat. Evidently, spellcasting students in the 19th century measured their wizard battles with damage numbers and combo meters.
The initial reveal trailer for Hogwarts Legacy gave us just a brief look at what the big wizarding RPG would involve, but it definitely made clear what a pretty game it's going to be. From the initial trailer we saw just a bit of combat and lore, though we now know a lot more about both.
The Hogwarts Legacy official gameplay overview from March in 2022 gave us our first proper look at gameplay and mechanics, from combat spellcasting to broom-mounted traversal. Also: centaurs.
At Opening Night Live in 2022, Hogwarts Legacy showed off a new story trailer that took a look at the darker side of the magic arts. Here, Slytherin student Sebastian Sallow teaches the rest of the characters about curses for self defense and the conflict it starts with Hogwarts professors.
When it was first revealed, Portkey Games called Hogwarts Legacy an "immersive, open-world action RPG." The studio also explains that, "[Players] will grow their character’s abilities as they master powerful spells, hone combat skills and select companions to help them face off against deadly enemies," Portkey Games says. "Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will pose difficult choices and determine what they stand for."
From the lengthy gameplay reveal in March 2022, we've seen a lot more of what that actually means.
Portkey Games has shown off how you'll explore Hogwarts castle itself, solving puzzles with your spells and abilities to unlock secret rooms and dungeons. You'll also be able to fly around on your broom.
As a student, you'll also be attending classes like Herbology, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, or Potions. From what we've seen so far, some classes will involve interactive minigames.
it sure looks like there's going to be a lot of combat in Hogwarts Legacy. You may be just a student, but you'll be battling magical creatures, dueling your classmates, and fighting against ne'er-do-well adult wizards too.
You'll learn all sorts of spells for combat and the gameplay reveal showed off quite a lot of them. Some spells can stun enemies, pull them towards you, or toss them in the air. Elemental spells can summon fire for an area of effect. It all appears pretty action-y, spells and effects flying as you face several enemies at once armed mostly with your wand.
The Room of Requirement is a special room in Hogwarts castle that only appears to someone in great need of it. As a fifth year transfer student, apparently you qualify. The Room of Requirement appears to function as a sort of customizable base and crafting hub for your student.
Avalanche Software and Portkey Games say that Hogwarts Legacy follows the wizarding world lore set out in the original Harry Potter novels but is an original story from the studio, not written by J.K. Rowling.
You'll play as a student attending Hogwarts in the late 1890, attending classes and learning magic alongside other students. "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 says. "Only you can decide if you will protect this secret for the good of all, or yield to the temptation of more sinister magic."
There may not be familiar faces in Hogwarts Legacy due to the time period it's set in, but it looks like we can definitely expect some standard places. Avalanche say that it's an open world game, so there will likely be plenty of exploring to do in and out of the castle. Throughout your school year, seasons will come and go as you explore areas outside the castle as well.
Hogwarts Castle
It should come as no surprise that we'll be spending a lot of time in Hogwarts Castle itself as students. In the reveal trailer we got a good look at the expansive great hall and a look at the exterior we know so well too.
Hogsmeade
The nearby village of Hogsmeade seems like it's going to be prominent. Parts of the story will take place there, as will buying potion ingredients and outfits for your character.
Forbidden Forest
Also from the reveal trailer we can spot a venture into the Forbidden Forest where a student is fighting against those unknown dark wizards.
Portkey Games has explained that certain students in the story have their own personal stories that you can be involved with and that they'll eventually be able to accompany you around the world and in combat. Here's who we know about so far:
Natsai Onai: a Gryffindor and "a brave adventurer driven by the justice she seeks."
Poppy Sweeting: a Hufflepuff who has "a kind heart and loves magical beasts."
Sebastian Sallow: a Slytherin "unafraid of detention or breaking the rules."
Amit Thakkar: a Ravenclaw who's a "bright and well-read" aspiring wizard
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Hogwarts Legacy review numbers
IGN: 9Hogwarts Legacy review numbers
"In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play."
Evening Standard: 4/5
"Bursting at the seams with hobbies to pick up."
Metro: 4/5
"[Has] a spark that’s long been missing from Harry Potter games."
Gamerant: 4/5
"Avalanche has cultivated a special atmosphere that will leave franchise fans completely engrossed."
Tom's Hardware: 4/5
"Hogwarts will justify the cost of entry alone for Potter fanatics."
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DoctorEldritch
