Hogwarts Legacy - State of Play coverage roundup, game confirmed for release on Nintendo Switch
A 22-minute State of Play has aired, dedicated solely to the upcoming Harry Potter video game Hogwarts Legacy. The video shows a fair amount of gameplay, as you create your own character within the universe, who starts at Hogwarts as a 5th-year student. Your professors will teach you how to be a wizard during the day, and after class, you can explore the school. It takes place in the late 1800s.
There are also dungeons you'll be able to go to and fight monsters in. The combat system employs plenty of magic spells for you to learn and use against your enemies. You can use charms and enchantments to block attacks and fight back against more defensive foes. Weaknesses and resistances to spell types will need to be exploited in order to win. Crafting is in the game as well, along with skill trees for you to adapt to your playstyle. Magical beasts can be petted and can assist you in battle, with some that can be captured and saved from poachers. Broomstick travel is how you get around the world quickly, or on flying creatures.
Companions with their own stories can be recruited. Players will eventually unlock a piece of land that lets you build your own house and design it yourself. Locations outside the school have stores where you can buy clothes and equipment. As time passes in the game, seasons will change and affect how the world looks.
Hogwarts Legacy will be out this holiday season. Beyond the State of Play video, the publisher also confirmed that the game would be coming to the Nintendo Switch, alongside the previously announced platforms of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Those with concerns about in-game purchases or microtransactions after their implementation in other Warner Bros. published single-player games will be relieved to learn that it has also been confirmed that microtransactions will not be in Hogwarts Legacy.
Regarding the lack of microtransactions, fans asked why Hogwarts Legacy uses real-time timers for crafting, to which the community manager for the game merely reiterated the fact that there are no microtransactions, leaving some wondering if it's just a mechanic to balance the game, or if WB is going to implement a form of monetization that isn't specifically microtransactions.
Q: What kind of game is Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world, action role-playing-game set in the 1800s wizarding world, which puts players at the centre of their own adventure.
Q: Who is publishing Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Warner Bros. Games is publishing Hogwarts Legacy under the Portkey Games label. The game is being developed by Avalanche Software
Q: When does Hogwarts Legacy release?
A: Hogwarts Legacy will release Holiday 2022.
Q: What platforms will Hogwarts Legacy be on?
A: Hogwarts Legacy will be available for PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStation4 Pro, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Q: What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with the game? Is this a new story from J.K. Rowling?
A: Each experience offered under Portkey Games will take place in the wizarding world and will be authentic to it. J.K. Rowling is supportive of Portkey Games and has entrusted the design and creation of the games to Warner Bros. Games and the developers involved. Her team have also collaborated with Warner Bros. Games on all aspects of Hogwarts Legacy to ensure it remains a true part of the Wizarding World experience and is in line with the creativity and magic that fans expect.
The story showcased in the game is not a new story from J.K. Rowling.
Q: How does Hogwarts Legacy fit into the Harry Potter Wizarding World?
A: While Portkey Games are not direct adaptations of the books and films, the games are firmly rooted in the magical universe of the Wizarding World. While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original vision, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the Wizarding World.
Q: Is Hogwarts Legacy an original story?
A: Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world, single-player, action role-playing videogame (RPG) set in the 1800s wizarding world. The story has players experiencing life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before, as they live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.
Q: What is the original story of Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s as they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world. They will grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions, taming magical beasts and more.
Q: How do you play Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Hogwarts Legacy is filled with immersive magic, putting players at the center of their adventure to become the witch or wizard they choose to be. They will grow their character’s abilities by mastering powerful spells, brewing potions, and harvesting magical plants as they face off against deadly enemies. Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will pose difficult choices and determine what they stand for.
Q: Can players choose their Hogwarts house in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Players can choose their Hogwarts house at the start of Hogwarts Legacy.
Q: Can players customize their character in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Players can create the witch or wizard they want to be in Hogwarts Legacy. They can customize their character at the onset of their adventure. As they progress, they’ll also be able to develop their own special combat style.
Q: Will players establish friendships in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Some students at Hogwarts will become friends. As players grow these relationships, these schoolmates will become companions who can accompany players on their journey, expand their abilities and open up as players learn their stories.
Q: Will you see Harry Potter, Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley in the game?
A: No, Hogwarts Legacy is set in the 1800s, before the time period of J.K. Rowling’s original stories.
Q: What are the dangerous threats in the Hogwarts Legacy?
A: The Wizarding World is fraught with dangers including creatures corrupted by a magical force, sinister witches and wizards, as well as a possible mounting goblin rebellion.
Q: Is Hogwarts Castle explorable in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Yes. Players will be able to explore a fully realized Hogwarts Castle where they will attend classes, discover dungeons, secret passageways, and challenging puzzles.
Q: Does Hogwarts Legacy have broom flight?
A: Broom flight is a method of travel in Hogwarts Legacy and there are also broom races. Players can take a Flying class to master their broomstick flying skills.
Q: Can players ride magical beasts in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Players can tame, mount and ride some magical beasts in Hogwarts Legacy.
Q: What kinds of classes will players attend in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Players will attend classes such as Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Potions where they will meet their professors, learn to cast spells, grow magical plants, brew potions and more.
Q: How do players level up in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: In addition to classes and spells, players will have access to a deep set of upgrades, talents and skills to aid their progression as a witch or wizard. They can complete challenges throughout the world to earn experience and level up their abilities. Magical gear can also be upgraded and specialized to increase offensive and defensive capabilities in a chosen playstyle.
Q: Can players mix and match spells in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Mixing and matching dozens of spells in Hogwarts Legacy will let players define their combat style on the path to become the ultimate duelist.
Q: What is the Room of Requirement?
A: The Room of Requirement is an important secret of Hogwarts that helps players customize and grow their abilities. We’ll have more details to share at a later time.
Q: Does Hogwarts Legacy have online or co-op gameplay?
A: Hogwarts Legacy is a single player experience and does not have online or co-op gameplay.
Q: Are there in-game purchases or micro-transactions in Hogwarts Legacy?
A: Hogwarts Legacy does not have in-game purchases or micro-transactions.
Q: Will Hogwarts Legacy include accessibility features?
A: Hogwarts Legacy will include accessibility features. We’ll have more details to share at a later time.
Q: Will Hogwarts Legacy adhere to Wizarding World lore?
A: Yes. While Hogwarts Legacy is not a direct adaptation of the books and films, the games are anchored in Wizarding World lore. Avalanche is creating a unique gaming experience that is inspired by the magical universe created by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, in which players will find new and unexpected locations, characters and story elements.
Q: Does the game take place only in Hogwarts Castle?
A: Hogwarts Legacy takes players beyond Hogwarts to new and familiar locations including the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village.
Q: What is Portkey Games?
A: Portkey Games, from Warner Bros. Games, is the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and videogame experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. Portkey Games offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the Wizarding World setting to discover new and unique experiences. The label was created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can create their own magical stories.
Q: What does Portkey mean, and why have you chosen it for this label?
A: In the Harry Potter series, a Portkey is an object, enchanted to instantly transport anyone touching it to a specific location. Most of the time, a Portkey is an everyday object that would not draw the attention of a Muggle. For Portkey Games, it symbolizes how games under this label will transport fans to their own adventures inspired by the Wizarding World.
Q: What type of games will be developed under Portkey Games?
A: Portkey Games will enable developers to create a variety of new and immersive gaming experiences that are all inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. These experiences have not been written by J.K. Rowling and will not be direct adaptations of the books and films. These are games that have been created for the fans, by game-makers who themselves are fans of and have been inspired by the Wizarding World.
Q: Are Portkey Games created with J.K. Rowling’s approval?
A: Each experience offered under Portkey Games will take place in the wizarding world and will be authentic to it. J.K. Rowling is supportive of Portkey Games and has entrusted the design and creation of the games to WB Games and the developers involved.
