Following their acquisition by Warner Bros. in 2017, Hogwarts Legacy marks the first release from Avalanche unrelated to Disney Interactive Studios and its products. Development commenced in 2018, while pre-release gameplay footage was leaked onto the internet in the same year. The storyline was designed to take place in a period untouched by established Wizarding World characters, offering players the opportunity to immerse themselves in their own distinct universe.
Hogwarts Legacy garnered significant anticipation upon announcement in 2020. Prior to its release, it attracted controversy due to Harry Potter creator J. K. Rowling's views on transgender people and accusations of including antisemitic tropes, leading to calls for a boycott. Following some delays, it was released on 10 February 2023 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, on 5 May 2023 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and on 14 November 2023 for Nintendo Switch. The early-access period of Hogwarts Legacy resulted in record-breaking viewership on streaming platform Twitch, making it the most-watched single-player game of all time on the platform.
Within two weeks, Hogwarts Legacy sold more than 12 million copies and generated $850 million in global sales revenue. As of 5 May 2023, its revenue reached $1 billion, and by end of October 2024, global sales totaled 30 million copies. Hogwarts Legacy received praise for its combat, world design, characters, variety of content, and faithfulness to the source material, but criticism for its lack of innovation as an open-world game and technical problems. It received various accolades, including nominations for two D.I.C.E. Awards, a Grammy Award for its soundtrack, and two BAFTA Games Awards. A sequel is in development.[2]
Gameplay
During battles, the player character mostly relies on using spells and spell combinations. The Cruciatus Curse is used against enemies to deal damage over time and can be combined with other spells or curses.
Hogwarts Legacy is an action role-playing game played from a third-person perspective. It is set at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and its surrounding areas, influenced by the Wizarding World franchise.[5][6] During character creation, the player can choose their character's appearance, gender, voice, and body type. They may also choose one of the four Hogwarts Houses.[7] As players progress, their player character learns to cast spells, brew potions, and master combat abilities, eventually developing their own special combat style.[8][9] Through in-game challenges, the player character can earn experience points to gain levels, which allows the player to access and upgrade different spells, talents, and abilities. These challenges come in the form of combat, quests, and exploration. Player characters can establish friendships with non-player characters (NPCs). As these relationships grow, schoolmates become companions who can accompany players on their journey, expand their abilities, and offer unique companion quests as players learn their stories.[10] Each of the four Hogwarts Houses—Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin—also offers a unique common room; these rooms are only accessible for the player's current house chosen by the Sorting Hat.[11] Accompanied by the choice of house, the player receives different exclusive quests.[12] While house points for the four Hogwarts houses play a part in the plot, they are not influenced by player actions.[13]
In the Room of Requirement, players can set up and design elements such as potion stations.
Next to experiences in Hogwarts Castle, the player can explore related areas such as the magic village of Hogsmeade, Forbidden Forest, or the Room of Requirement.[14] Hogsmeade features establishments such as The Three Broomsticks Inn, a gathering place for villagers and students; the Hog's Head, an inn with a less favourable reputation; and Zonko's, a store selling joke merchandise.[15] The Room of Requirement features environmental customisation elements; players can modify the room with multiple objects as they progress. It can be entirely personalised, and its architecture can be changed. The room is used to place and take care of utility items such as brewing stations and planting pots, which can also be customised. Some of the magical beasts can be held in a chosen "Vivarium", a separate place where the player takes care of them.[14] Players are able to tame, care for, and ride different magical beasts, including hippogriffs and thestrals. Other interactable magical creatures include unicorns, kneazles, and puffskeins.[16] Plants grown and acquired can be used in combat, such as mandrakes being used to stun enemies.[17]
During exploration, the player character can use a flying broom to travel around the map.
Players can explore the map as they please. The different areas present various activities and enemies, with certain aspects locked behind progression milestones in the main plot. During exploration, players have the option to obtain gear by searching for treasure chests. The Revelio spell supports the player's exploration by acting as a scanning tool to discover secrets.[19] To travel around the map, players can choose between various options. Players may use Floo Powder to fast travel, or can fly across the map with a broom after participating in flying class.[20][18] Attending classes is one of the main elements of the game. Classes are attended as a part of the story, advancing gameplay mechanics.[21] Progressing through the game causes the interior and exterior of the castle to change visually and match the seasons.[22]
Synopsis
Official reveal trailer
Setting and characters
Hogwarts Legacy is set in the late 1800s, taking place in several Wizarding World locations such as Hogwarts Castle, Hogsmeade, and the Scottish Highlands.[5][14] The player takes on the role of a student (voiced by Sebastian Croft or Amelia Gething) starting their studies at Hogwarts in the fifth year.[23][24] The player character possesses the power to control a mysterious ancient magic and holds the key to an "ancient secret" that threatens the stability of the wizarding world. Their mission is to discover the reasons behind the resurgence of this forgotten magic and those who are trying to harness its power.[25]
The player encounters various characters, with the most relevant being their professors and fellow students. Professor Eleazar Fig, a wizard who teaches magic theory at Hogwarts, is a central ally throughout the player's adventure.[26][27] Other characters the protagonist meets include Hogwarts students Amit Thakkar (Asif Ali) and Everett Clopton (Luke Youngblood), Professors Onai (Kandace Caine) and Shah (Sohm Kapila), as well as headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black (Simon Pegg) and Professor Matilda Weasley (Lesley Nicol).[23] The protagonist is also able to build friendships with fellow students Natsai Onai, Poppy Sweeting, and Sebastian Sallow, who take part in the protagonist's journey as companion characters.[10] Antagonists include Ranrok, the leader of a goblin rebellion, and Victor Rookwood, the leader of a group of Dark Wizards.[28]
Plot
The protagonist receives a letter from Professor Weasley, which confirms their attendance at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a fifth-year student and assigns Professor Fig as the protagonist's mentor. Fig escorts the protagonist from London to Hogwarts via a flying coach. While investigating an unknown artefact, a dragon attacks them, prompting the two to reach for aPortkey hidden inside the artefact that teleports them to Gringotts. Using the Portkey to enter an old vault, the protagonist learns they can see traces of ancient magic. The duo is confronted by a hostile goblin named Ranrok before escaping to Hogwarts, where the protagonist is sorted into one of the four houses.
The protagonist learns various spells during classes and goes on a trip to Hogsmeade with a companion, where a troll sent by Ranrok attacks them and is defeated by them. The protagonist also sneaks into the library and finds a book with missing pages. While Professor Fig studies the book, the protagonist locates the missing pages and finds a secret room below Hogwarts known as the Map Chamber, where they later visit several times with Fig and talk to the portraits of four deceased Hogwarts professors who refer to themselves as the "Keepers", whose goal is to protect the secrets of ancient magic from the wizarding world.
To reveal the secrets of ancient magic, the protagonist completes four trials left by the Keepers. The trials feature complicated puzzles and dangerous tasks that require the skills the protagonist has acquired, each leading to a Pensieve, a magical device used to store and review memories. The protagonist learns from the memories that Isidora Morganach, a Hogwarts student who became a professor with abilities similar to the protagonist, was in conflict with the Keepers and left behind a hidden repository of ancient magic after using it to extract negative emotions, particularly from her suffering father. The Keepers realised that Isidora was inhaling the extracted emotions to increase her own power and failed to dissuade her, forcing one of them to eliminate her with the Killing Curse. Through their other adventures, the protagonist also learns that Ranrok, the leader of an ongoing goblin rebellion against wizards, seeks to find the repository and exploit it for his own ends. To locate it, he collaborates with a group of dark wizards led by Victor Rookwood, a descendant of one of the Keepers.
After the protagonist completes all trials, they receive one final task from the Keepers: to create a special type of magic wand from the artefacts found at the Pensieves. Professor Fig sends the protagonist to Gerbold Ollivander, the wandmaker, in order to craft the special wand. As the protagonist leaves Ollivander's, they are ambushed by Victor, who proposes an alliance against the goblins. The protagonist refuses, resulting in a battle in which the protagonist manages to defeat him. Shortly after, the protagonist and Professor Fig find the repository intact, and the protagonist makes their choice between keeping the magic sealed away or absorbing the power for themselves. Ranrok then locates Isidora's repository and absorbs the ancient power, transforming himself into a dragon. Fig is mortally wounded, and the protagonist battles the dragon, ending the goblin rebellion by destroying Ranrok and doing as they chose earlier. Regardless of their choice, Fig dies, and Headmaster Black and Professor Weasley hold a eulogy in honour of him.
The protagonist returns to finish regular school studies, as the end of the school year is leading to the O.W.L. exams. They also continue to explore the castle's surrounding areas and go through adventures with companions Sebastian Sallow, Poppy Sweeting, and Natsai Onai if they haven't completed them already. The journey ends with Professor Weasley awarding the protagonist 100 house points for the extraordinary adventure, which ultimately leads to a win of the House Cup for their respective house.
Development
Hogwarts Legacy was developed by Avalanche Software, which was acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment from Disney in January 2017.[29][30] In the same year, Warner Bros. established a new publishing label named Portkey Games, which was dedicated to managing the Wizarding World license.[31]Hogwarts Legacy was Avalanche's first project unrelated to Disney Interactive Studios and its products since 2005.[32] The open world game was developed by utilising Unreal Engine 4.[33][34]J. K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, was not directly involved in its development. However, Warner Bros. acknowledged that her literary works served as the basis for all projects in the Wizarding World.[35] The total budget was estimated at $150 million.[36]
The Hogwarts castle was recreated based on its description in the Harry Potter books to be faithful to the source material and easy to recognise.
Lead writer Moira Squier stated that the story was purposefully placed in a time period where no established characters of the Wizarding World franchise were around, making it possible to provide the player with their own unique world in a setting similar to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts eras. The writing team focused on creating a "diverse collection" of characters for players to potentially identify with in a positive way.[38][1] Although the main characters of Harry Potter are absent in Hogwarts Legacy, some, such as Nearly Headless Nick and Peeves the Poltergeist, make appearances.[15] The team also introduced a trans-inclusive character creator and the franchise's first transgender character, Sirona Ryan.[39] Boston Madsen, the environmental lead for the creation of Hogwarts, emphasised the importance of creating environmental elements close to the source material of the Harry Potter books. Madsen stated that even though it is Avalanche Software's version of Hogwarts, it is made to be easily recognisable. Game director Alan Tew also added that they aimed to go beyond the expected areas to let people discover new locations and undiscovered chambers.[37] Tew and Madsen further explained that they endeavoured to provide each common room of the four Hogwarts Houses as a unique experience to its members, which is further amplified by the addition of uniquely created music for each house. The overarching aim was to create a welcoming atmosphere that fosters a sense of nostalgia and belonging.[40]
Lead designer Troy Leavitt stated that the studio had the flexibility to select the elements that fans were most enthusiastic about. He also mentioned that Hogwarts Legacy was designed to give fans the "wizarding world experience" they always desired while reading the books or watching the movies, without any particular agenda or message.[41] Also working in game design, Troy Johnson elaborated that with the advancements in modern technology and gaming consoles, it was possible to create a competent game based on the Wizarding World. The open world was designed to fulfil two primary goals: to allow players overall freedom and to offer opportunities to craft a gaming experience that is highly personalised and can be enjoyed in their own unique way.[42]
Artists Jeff Bunker and Vanessa Palmer explained that they kept five tech pillars in mind: 4K graphics and visuals, 3D audio, activities and game help, and the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller, as well as fast loading times and activities. They referenced the usage of the Unreal Engine, the computing and rendering capabilities of the PlayStation 5, and the Niagara visual effects system to deliver visual effects for spells and magic.[43]
Music
The soundtrack was composed by Chuck E. Myers, J. Scott Rakozy and Peter Murray, including additional tracks by Alexander Horowitz.[44][45][46] According to Myers, the development process lasted nearly four years. Audio production coordinator Nathan Ayuobi noted that while they took inspiration from composer John Williams' previous Harry Potter-related work, they concentrated on forging their own unique style.[47] In a behind-the-scenes video, composers Murray and Rakozy commented on the creation of the Hogwarts Legacy soundtrack. They explained that the challenge of its creative process was to balance the original composition with the existing music of the Wizarding World films. One of the songs, Overture to the Unwritten, was released prior to the soundtrack.[44][48] The song was performed by the Seven Springs Symphony Orchestra & Choir as a live capture of a 54-piece orchestra.[49]
In December 2022, the release of the soundtrack was announced to happen in February 2023.[44] It was released as two digital double albums totaling 75 tracks: Hogwarts Legacy (Original Video Game Soundtrack) and Hogwarts Legacy (Study Themes from the Original Video Game Soundtrack).[45][46] The soundtrack was also released on vinyl, mastered by James Plotkin, and distributed by Mondo.[50][51] On 25 June, the Hollywood Bowl hosted a concert in celebration of the ten-year anniversary of the Game Awards, featuring a range of video game music from recent years, including Hogwarts Legacy. The music was performed by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. The event was presented in partnership with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and conducted by composer Lorne Balfe.[52][53][54]
Release
Before any official statement on the development or release of Hogwarts Legacy, gameplay footage leaked in 2018.[55]Hogwarts Legacy was officially announced at a PlayStation 5 event in September 2020, with a planned release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.[56] It was delayed twice, first to 2022, and later to 10 February 2023.[34][57] The PS4 and Xbox One versions were also delayed twice, from its February 2023 launch to May.[58][59] A Nintendo Switch port by Shiver Entertainment was released on 14 November 2023.[60][61] It was originally scheduled for 25 July 2023.[58] The game was released in three versions: Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Edition. The Deluxe Edition includes extra content like a special mount, clothing set, and a new battle arena location. The Collector's Edition includes the former's content and adds a steel case, box, and a collectible "floating wand." Standard Edition buyers can upgrade to Deluxe by purchasing the extra content separately.[62] Early access was made available to people who had pre-ordered the physical Collector's Edition or Digital Deluxe Edition on console or PC on 7 February 2023.[63] To promote the game, a specifically designed DualSense controller, the "Revelio Controller", was released at the game's launch in the U.S. and UK as a limited edition.[64][65]
During development, Troy Leavitt faced backlash in February 2021 for his social media posts supporting cultural appropriation and Gamergate.[66] Shortly after, Leavitt resigned from his roles at Avalanche Software and the Hogwarts Legacy project. He stated that his departure was not a response to the criticism. Warner Bros. did not comment on the situation.[66][67][68] Following the release of the first gameplay trailer in March 2022, Hogwarts Legacy received criticism for basing it in the Goblin Rebellion era of Wizarding World history, with the game's storyline focusing on the player suppressing a goblin rebellion. The portrayal of goblins in the Wizarding World has previously been acussed of being based on antisemitic tropes.[69] Critics argued that the game suggests that goblins, as a minority, are the villains for fighting against their oppressors and seeking equal rights and freedom.[70][71] In an article of The Times of Israel, the portrayal of goblins in both the game and the larger Harry Potter universe was defended by some. The non-governmental organisation Campaign Against Antisemitism argued that the depiction is consistent with how goblins have been portrayed in Western literature over the centuries and is not evidence of malice on the part of contemporary artists. The statement also commended Rowling for her tireless efforts in defending the Jewish community.[72] Travis Northup of IGN disagreed that the game contained antisemitic tropes. He pointed out that the story did not feature a group of goblins controlling banks or attempting to seize power, but rather focused on a single goblin who rebelled against the Wizarding World's demand of denying magical access to his kind.[72]
Hogwarts Legacy became a subject of contention in response to Rowling's controversial views on transgender people.[73][41] Her detractors called for a boycott as a means of showing solidarity with the transgender community[74] and to impede the financial benefits she would receive from its release.[75][76][77] Others felt that Hogwarts Legacy could be separated from the views of its universe's creator.[76][77] Writing for GameSpot, transgender YouTuber Jessie Earl wrote that those on each side of the debate should come to their own conclusions and that, while it was not wrong to want to play Hogwarts Legacy, those who did should not claim to be supportive of the trans community.[78] In response to the controversy, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's President, David Haddad, expressed that Rowling has the right to hold her personal viewpoint.[79] Shortly before the release of Hogwarts Legacy, a website was created with the purpose of targeting Twitch streamers who played the game. The web tool in question filtered accounts streaming the game. While the page was taken down soon after, some streamers had already been harassed.[74][80][81] Following Hogwarts Legacy's early-access release on 7 February 2023, some content creators and streamers were criticised and harassed by others opposed to Rowling's views for promoting and broadcasting the game.[74][82] As a result, some streamers decided not to stream the game at all, with Polygon noting that it occurred either in favour of ongoing protests or for fear of harassment.[83] The game's viewership on live-streaming service Twitch peaked at a record-breaking 1.28 million concurrent viewers on 7 February.[84] The boycott was declared unsuccessful out of multiple perspectives; Den of Geek stated that the issues with Rowling seemed to have minimal effect on the game's overall sales figures.[85] According to PC Games, the sales figures attested to the ineffectiveness of boycott efforts aimed at Hogwarts Legacy.[86] Michael Deacon of The Telegraph noted that it had the opposite effect and failed to garner the attention of non-activists;[87] and Fox News claimed the game had beaten cancel culture.[88]
With the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Hogwarts Legacy, the developers included an arachnophobia mode that replaces the regular spider design. The new spider design features a more cartoonish look, removes their legs, and pays homage to the Harry Potter books with the addition of rollerskates on their feet.[89][90] To accompany the release of PlayStation 5 Pro, Hogwarts Legacy is part of a series of enhanced games.[91]
Additional content
As part of the release, players received free cosmetic items by joining the Harry Potter Fan Club and linking the WB Games account.[92] PlayStation versions include exclusive content like the "Haunted Hogsmeade Shop" quest and the "Felix Felicis" potion recipe as a pre-order bonus. The quest features an additional dungeon, a cosmetic set, and an in-game shop, while the potion reveals gear chests on the map.[93] The Dark Arts Pack, available in Deluxe and Collector's editions or as downloadable content (DLC,) includes an exclusive mount, clothing set, and a new battle arena. The Dark Arts Battle Arena expands the two available battle arenas available in the base game.[94][95] From the early access release on 7 February 2023, to 24 February 2023, players could earn five exclusive cosmetic items via Twitch Drops.[96][97] Additionally, the launch of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions offered the "Professor Ronen cosmetic set," with seven extra items obtainable through Twitch Drops as well.[98]
Shortly after release, game director Alan Tew stated that the team focused only on the launch and did not yet plan to release additional content.[99] In May 2024, Avalanche Studios announced a major update for 6 June, which added player-requested features like a photo mode, talent point resets, and new cosmetic items. The update also released pre-order and console-exclusive content, including the "Haunted Hogsmeade Shop" quest.[100][101]
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Hogwarts Legacy received "generally favourable" reviews.[102][103][104] As per OpenCritic, 89% of the 158 critic reviews recommend it.[121]
The environments and visuals were lauded, with many critics praising the recreation of Hogwarts Castle. GamesRadar+ complimented the world as being faithful to the existing Wizarding World lore,[113] and Destructoid appreciated the overall presentation and positive synergy with the universe.[106] Other reviewers echoed these points,[106][122][123][124] with NME writing that the world was probably the most fitting depiction for fans.[125] Further praise was directed at the castle's level of detail.[126][127][128]Push Square highlighted the level of atmosphere and visual presentation, finding it made aimless activities like walking around Hogwarts enjoyable.[129] The surrounding areas set in the Scottish Highlands received similar praise, though some thought that other areas were not as engaging.[130][131]
The gameplay received mixed reactions. PC Gamer praised Legacy's straightforward yet cohesive systems, such as the wizard duels and the personalised Room of Requirement.[18]Eurogamer Germany said the attention to detail motivated the player to explore the world. They highlighted the music and were impressed by the design of some of the quests and puzzles.[108]Destructoid complimented the range of activities and unlockables but found the game sometimes unimpressive, contributing to the experience of being wrapped in an unsatisfatory open world environment.[132]NME similarly wrote that the design felt dated, attributing this to its long development cycle.[125]The Guardian criticised the experience as competent yet not particularly impressive. While praising the presentation for its captivating nature, they felt that the progression was derivative of other open-world examples.[119]GameRevolution described Legacy as a fun but forgettable Harry Potterfan service, writing that features such as attending classes and creating potions lacked sufficient depth.[111] The combat was generally praised. PCGamesN called it the strongest aspect,[133] and The A.V. Club deemed it the most interesting feature, expressing that confrontations with greater difficulty provided genuinely thrilling experiences.[134]GameSpot described the combat and spells as giving a notable feeling of control to the player, though they criticised the spell-selecting controls and the unremarkable enemy design.[135]Game Informer similarly lamented the enemies for lacking variety.[136]
The narrative divided critics. Some praised the developer's handling of the narrative to tell an original story in a setting that felt overly familiar.[124][137]Windows Central deemed the story compelling,[127] while the writing of the more detailed sidequests was positively highlighted by Video Games Chronicle as some of the best of the series.[120]Hardcore Gamer praised the story as riveting, but felt it faltered towards the end.[126]PCMag in particular criticised the decision to have the protagonist act out a "Chosen One" role.[138] Other reviewers found the narrative to be lacklustre and, at times, illogical.[122][107]
The characters were mostly well received. Windows Central described them as interesting, noting that they added depth to the world.[127]CNET complimented them for being well-written and positively remarked upon their ethnic diversity,[139] which was echoed by PCMag.[138]IGN praised the companions for their characterization and roles.[122] The cast performances received similar compliments;[139][136]PCMag wrote that their quality made conversations feel natural.[138] On the other hand, Video Games Chronicle considered certain NPCs outside of Hogwarts to be lifeless.[120]Hardcore Gamer wrote that the protagonist's rivals, Ranrok and Rookwood, failed as compelling antagonists and were inferior compared to other established Harry Potter villains.[126]
Reviewers were critical of Legacy's technical aspects. PC Gamer experienced brief but frequent pauses at doors, as well as frame rate drops during uneventful moments.[18]Eurogamer Germany noted shading issues and rigid facial expressions on character models,[108] and CNET thought that their eye movements occasionally felt unnatural.[139] Many noted that the performance was affected by technical problems, including slow loading of textures, frame rate inconsistencies, visual glitches, clipping objects, and inconsistent lighting.[122][127][138][140]GameStar reported performance problems overall while reviewing the PC version, especially in areas with many NPCs, but said the first patch alleviated some of these problems.[128]
As a result of the controversy surrounding Rowling, some publications chose not to cover or review Hogwarts Legacy,[74][76] and the internet forum ResetEra banned all discussion of it.[73][141] In its own review, Wired gave it the lowest possible score, stating that it was mediocre and harmful.[142] The review, which was noted as politically focused,[143] drew criticism.[144][145][146] In response to the controversy, the studio added that the development focused on creating a "rich and diverse" world that would represent all groups of people.[39] According to PinkNews, transgender character Sirona Ryan's inclusion was dismissed by some activists as insincere, while unnamed sources involved in the development allegedly stated that the character added nothing substantial and was solely created to avert criticism.[147]
Sales
On 23 February 2023, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that Hogwarts Legacy had sold more than 12 million copies and generated $850 million in global sales.[84][148][149] On 5 May 2023, it had accumulated a total of 15 million copies sold worldwide and crossed $1 billion in total revenue.[150][151] By the end of 2023, Hogwarts Legacy achieved a sales milestone of 22 million copies, with around 2 million units sold during the December holiday season.[152] By the end of October 2024, it crossed 30 million copies sold, making it one of the best-selling video games of all time.[153][154]
In the US, Hogwarts Legacy topped the monthly sales charts for February 2023.[155][156] In the UK, Hogwarts Legacy debuted and remained atop of the charts for five consecutive weeks,[157][158][159][160][161] and nine weeks in total.[162][163][164][165] Analysts compared the first-week sales to Elden Ring, noting that physical and digital sales are up by 80% and 88%, respectively.[157][158] In Japan, Hogwarts Legacy debuted atop the software sales chart, with the PlayStation 5 version selling 67,196 physical copies.[166] It remained one additional week at the top spot and, as of 14 May 2023, accumulated a total of 172,820 physical copies sold.[167][168] The PlayStation 4 version sold a total of 44,947 physical copies by 4 June 2023.[169] Lastly, as of 4 February 2023, the Nintendo Switch version achieved a total of 95,156 physical copies sold.[170]Legacy sold more than 600,000 copies in Germany within a period of two and a half weeks, making it one of the most successful games of both 2022 and 2023.[171] In Europe, Hogwarts Legacy's launch sales placed it as the sixth biggest launch for a video game since the creation of the European Monthly Charts.[172] On Steam, Hogwarts Legacy reached a peak of over 489,000 concurrent players during its early access. By then, it had become the second-highest player count peak for any single-player game, behind only Cyberpunk 2077 with over 1 million concurrent players.[173][174]Hogwarts Legacy peaked at over 879,000 players, making it the game with the eighth-highest concurrent player peak overall.[175] Due to Steam's rules on separating pre-orders and official releases, Hogwarts Legacy occupied the first four spots on the platform's sales chart at some point during its first week of release.[176][177]
Hogwarts Legacy became the bestselling game of 2023 in the United States, breaking a 14-year games industry streak of either a Call of Duty or a Rockstar Games release holding the top position.[178][179] It was the second-bestselling game in Europe of 2023. When excluding EA football games, no other game has attained the amount of unit sales in a calendar year since the commencement of the European charts in 2017.[180] It was the bestselling game in Czech Republic, Netherlands and United Kingdom while also being placed in the top three positions in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Sweden.[181] On Steam, it was one of the best-performing games of 2023.[182][183]
At the 20th British Academy Games Awards, Hogwarts Legacy was longlisted in nine categories.[199][200] It was nominated for the British Academy Games Award for Animation and British Academy Games Award for Family.[201][202] It received nominations for "Game of the Year" and "Best Game on Steam Deck" at The Steam Awards, winning the latter.[203] At the 2024 Pégases Awards in France, Legacy was nominated in the category of "Best Foreign Video Game".[204][205] The game also received a nomination for "Best Foreign Game" at Poland's 2024 Digital Dragons Awards.[206]Eurogamer Germany recognized Hogwarts Legacy for its outstanding fanservice in their 2023 awards announcement, honoring it with the "Best Fanservice" award.[207][208] At the PS Blog Game of the Year Awards 2023, the game was nominated in seven categories.[209] It won "PS4 Game of the Year" and was placed in runner-up categories for "Best Use of Dual Sense" (Gold Trophy) and "Best Audio Design" (Silver Trophy).[210]The Escapist named it one of five best action-adventure games of 2023.[211]Hardcore Gamer nominated Hogwarts Legacy for "Best Action Game",[212] while IGN named it a runner-up for "Best Open-World Game".[213] It appeared on multiple year-end lists of 2023, including GamingBolt (9th),[214] British GQ (21st),[215]BAFTA Games,[216]GamePressure,[217]Der Spiegel,[218]BBC[219] and The Telegraph.[220]
In the month of its release, Hogwarts Legacy quickly rose to prominence as the top game in the Wizarding World franchise. The franchise also experienced a boost in engagement, with a 300% increase in traffic on Wizarding World websites.[229] The game's popularity has notably influenced Warner Bros. Discovery's strategy for the wider franchise.[230] In August 2024, Warner Bros. stated it would plan to develop further Wizarding World games, such as Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.[231]
In September 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery's Gunnar Wiedenfels stated that a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy would be one of the corporation's primary goals.[232] The sequel is planned to be connected with the upcoming Harry Potter reboot television series.[153]
Hermione Granger is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. She first appeared in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997), as a first-year student on her way to Hogwarts. She becomes friends with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley after they save her from a troll in the girls' bathroom. Hermione often uses her quick wit, deft recall, and encyclopaedic knowledge to help her friends in perilous situations. Rowling has stated that Hermione resembles herself as a young girl, with her insecurity and fear of failure.
Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. For most of the series, he is the headmaster of the wizarding school Hogwarts. He is also the founder and leader of the Order of the Phoenix, an organisation dedicated to fighting the Dark wizard Lord Voldemort.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a fictional boarding school of magic for young wizards. It is the primary setting for the first six novels in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, and also serves as a major setting in the Wizarding World media franchise.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone is a 2001 fantasy film directed by Chris Columbus and produced by David Heyman from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1997 novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling. It is the first instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, with Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. Its story follows Harry's first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as he discovers that he is a famous wizard and begins his formal wizarding education.
The Harry Potter fandom is the community of fans of the Harry Potter books and films who participate in entertainment activities that revolve around the series, such as reading and writing fan fiction, creating and soliciting fan art, engaging in role-playing games, socialising on Harry Potter-based forums, and more. The fandom interacts online as well as offline through activities such as fan conventions, participating in cosplay, tours of iconic landmarks relevant to the books and production of the films, and parties held for the midnight release of each book and film.
The fictional universe of the Harry Potter series of novels contains two distinct societies: the "wizarding world" and the "Muggle world". The term "Muggle world" refers to a society inhabited by non-magical people ("Muggles"), while the term "wizarding world" refers to a society of wizards that live parallel to Muggles. The wizarding world is described as a veiled society wherein magic is commonly used and practised; the wizards live in self-enforced seclusion and hide their abilities from Muggles. The novels are set in 1990s Britain, which contains both Muggle and wizard communities. Any new works taking place in this universe are released under the Wizarding World brand.
Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's conflict with Lord Voldemort, a dark wizard who intends to become immortal, overthrow the wizard governing body known as the Ministry of Magic, and subjugate all wizards and Muggles.
Lego Harry Potter is a Lego theme based on the film series of the same name and the eponymous novels by British author J. K. Rowling. It is licensed from Warner Bros. Lego models of important scenes, vehicles and characters were made for the first six films and all of the published books. The first sets appeared in 2001, to coincide with the release of the first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Subsequent sets were released alongside the new films, until Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. The line then went dormant for three years, with sets being released in 2010 and 2011. In 2018, it was announced that more sets based on the Harry Potter franchise would be released, including new sets based on Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and its sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a 2009 action-adventure game. It is based on the film of the same name. The game was released on 30 June 2009 for mobile devices, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, and Mac OS X.
Rubeus Hagrid is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He was introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) as a half-giant who is the gamekeeper and groundskeeper at the wizarding school Hogwarts. He is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and eventually becomes the Care of Magical Creatures professor. Hagrid is portrayed by Robbie Coltrane in all eight Harry Potter films.
Ronald Bilius Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. He is introduced in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone as a first-year student on his way to the wizarding school Hogwarts. During the school year, Ron befriends Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Being the only member of the trio who was raised in wizarding society, he provides insight into wizarding customs and traditions. Along with Harry and Hermione, he is a member of Gryffindor House at Hogwarts and is present for most of the action throughout the series. Ron is portrayed by Rupert Grint in all eight Harry Potter films.
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is an action-adventure game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game is based on the Lego Harry Potter toy line, and its storyline covers the first four books by J.K. Rowling and its film adaptations in the Harry Potter film series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).
Ginevra Molly "Ginny" Weasley is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J.K. Rowling. She is introduced in the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, as the youngest child and only daughter of Arthur and Molly Weasley. She becomes romantically involved with Harry Potter and eventually marries him. Ginny is portrayed by Bonnie Wright in all eight Harry Potter films.
The Wizarding World is a fantasy media franchise and shared fictional universe centred on the Harry Potter novel series by J. K. Rowling. A series of films have been in production since 2000, and in that time eleven films have been produced—eight are adaptations of the Harry Potter novels and three are part of the Fantastic Beasts series. The films are owned and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The series has collectively grossed over $9.6 billion at the global box office, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film franchise of all time.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a 2018 role-playing video game developed and published by Jam City. The game is set in the Wizarding World and based on the Harry Potter novels written by J.K. Rowling. Hogwarts Mystery follows a player character entering the fictional school of Hogwarts and is set before the events of the novels. The game released on 25 April 2018 for Android and iOS devices. Many of the actors from the Harry Potter film series provided their voices for the game.
Portkey Games is a video game label owned by Warner Bros. Games founded in 2017 and dedicated to creating gaming experiences related to the Wizarding World. In the beginning, the company's primary focus was on publishing mobile games, but in 2023, they diversified by launching Hogwarts Legacy for both PC and consoles.
The Harry Potter video games are a series of video games based on the Harry Potter novel and film series originally created by English author J. K. Rowling. Many of the Harry Potter-inspired video games are tie-ins to the film adaptations of the same name. There are multiple distinct versions for individual games.
Luna Lovegood is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling. She first appears in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003). She is portrayed by Evanna Lynch in the Harry Potter films.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a sports video game developed by Unbroken Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label. The game focuses on the Harry Potter-related sport Quidditch. The player controls a character that holds a specific position in Quidditch and engages in broomstick adventures and competitive multiplayer modes.
↑ Greenbaum, Aaron (5 May 2023). "Hogwarts Legacy Outgrosses Most Harry Potter Movies". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024. Of course, Hogwarts Legacy was also released in the aftermath of the controversy surrounding Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling noted above. That controversy obviously had little negative impact on the game's overall sales.
↑ Tengler-Boehm, Tobias (6 May 2023). "Boykott gegen J.K. Rowling gescheitert? So unfassbar viel Umsatz hat Hogwarts Legacy gemacht"[Boycott against J.K. Rowling failed? Here's how unbelievably much revenue Hogwarts Legacy has generated]. PC Games (in German). Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023. Die Verkaufszahlen von Hogwarts Legacy erwecken jedoch den Eindruck, dass die Aufrufe zum Boykott des RPGs regelrecht verpufften.[However, the sales figures for Hogwarts Legacy give the impression that the calls for a boycott of the RPG literally fell flat.]
↑ Deacon, Michael (28 February 2023). "The woke war against JK Rowling has utterly failed... and here's the proof". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023. So, in short: no, the boycott did not work out entirely as planned. In fact, it's hard to imagine how it could have backfired more spectacularly. For all their shrill, self-pitying demands, the anti-Rowling activists have been trounced. Ordinary people, out in the real world, simply didn't care what they thought.
↑ McWhertor, Michael; Myers, Maddy; Clark, Nicole; Carpenter, Nicole; Good, Owen S.; Notis, Ari; Mahardy, Mike; Welsh, Oli; Goslin, Austen (1 January 2023). "Polygon's 50 most anticipated games of 2023". Polygon. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
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