10 Things to Know Before Playing Hogwarts Legacy
Release Date
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Although long rumored and even with a leak showing off gameplay in 2018 - which was promptly struck down with copyright claims all but confirming its existence - Hogwarts Legacy wasn’t officially unveiled until Sony’s PlayStation 5 event in September 2020. Although the game was then originally scheduled to be released in 2021, the game was unfortunately delayed not once but twice from 2021, to 2022, and will finally be released on February 10th, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. The PS4 and Xbox One versions will release later on April 4th, and the Switch version on July 25th barring any further delays. Those who pre order the Deluxe Edition will receive 72-hour early access, allowing them to start playing on February 7th.
No Microtransactions
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We say this every time, but it’s still sad this has to be something we’re excited about. However, given WB Games’ track record, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t skeptical. According to the Hogwarts Legacy website’s FAQ section, Hogwarts Legacy will have no microtransactions of any kind beyond the Dark Arts Pack that comes bundled with the Deluxe Edition of the game and there will be no additional content or paid content available for the game. There will however be exclusive content for those playing on PlayStation with The Haunted Hogsmeade Quest which upon completion will grant the player their own shop in Hogsmeade, netting them better rates for selling items and gear.
Time Period
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Hogwarts Legacy is set long before the time of Voldemort and the Boy Who Lived, so those hoping to cross paths with familiar characters won’t find them here. Besides the many ghosts that haunt the halls, of course. Set towards the tail end of the 1800s, Hogwarts Legacy will tell a wholly original story set in the Wizarding World that will take players to familiar locations such as Hogsmeade Village, the Forbidden Forest and of course Hogwarts Castle and its many familiar rooms and extensive grounds. The player will begin their journey in Hogwarts Legacy as a fifth year, newly enrolled in Hogwarts with a natural talent for using powerful ancient magic. Your abilities with this ancient magic are said to be key to the game’s overarching storyline, all while you attempt to play catchup with students who have obviously been studying at the school far longer than you.
Classes
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Since this is your first year at Hogwarts but you’re starting as a fifth year with longtime students, you’ll have a lot of catching up to do. This will include all the classes you’d expect such as Defense Against The Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, History of Magic and so on. There is one additional class new to Hogwarts seemingly specific to your character: Ancient Magic. Given your character’s natural proclivity to this mostly unknown form of magic, you’ll be spending a lot of time in the main story accompanied by Professor Fig as you attempt to unlock your full potential as well as uncover the mystery associated with Ancient Magic and the dark forces who would seek to control it. All the classes you attend assist you in increasing your spells’ potency and they can also be practiced and customized in the Room of Requirement.
Exploring the Grounds
The world of Harry Potter is vast and ever expanding and appropriately so is Hogwarts Legacy. As the first truly immersive game set in the Harry Potter universe not tied directly to one of the films or books, the developers at Portkey Games are free to expand on the lore and create entirely new areas as well as allow players to explore previously unseen sections of Hogwarts Castle. While you can freely explore the grounds in between classes, there are also what appear to be numerous dungeons, hidden rooms, as well as missions that will take you far beyond the school grounds. We don’t know just how big the world of Hogwarts Legacy is but considering you’re given your broom and various mounts to navigate the world as well as Avalanche Software’s penchant for enormous open worlds, it is a good indication there will be much to explore during your time at Hogwarts.
Mystical Arts
Given the many dangers in the Wizarding World, it’s no surprise you’ll be able to wield any number of spells as well as learn newer and more powerful versions as you progress. There will be over 20 spells available as well as the ability to equip up to 16 at a time using the controller’s face buttons as well as build combos by chaining numerous spells together. You’ll be able to practice using these various spells in and out of class in duels as well as Hogwarts’ training room. What’s most surprising is Portkey Games allowing players to learn the Unforgivable Curses Cruciata, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra. These one-shot spells won’t be available until after completing the main story and can only be found by doing a very late-stage side mission but having the ability on hand makes the prospect of New Game + all the more intriguing.
No Quidditch
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Given the near immediate use of the broom in much of the footage, many were anticipating the opportunity to play the beloved game Quidditch during their time at Hogwarts. Considering the numerous storylines built around this specific sport as well as its popularity, this seemed like an obvious inclusion. However, according to the Hogwarts Legacy website, Quidditch will not be one of the extracurricular activities on offer at Hogwarts. This isn’t due to the time period of Hogwarts Legacy either, as the game has been played for well over 1000 years, but likely due to the team focusing on the numerous other mechanics in the game. Players will still be able to traverse the world using their broom and in a world of DLC, who knows what the future of Hogwarts Legacy has in store?
Beast Tamer
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In addition to your broom, players can also tame and ride numerous flying beasties found throughout the world of Hogwarts Legacy. The ability to tame these many creatures will likely be tied to one of the many classes we can attend but this has yet to be confirmed. Not only will you be able to ride many of these mystical creatures, you’ll also be in charge of their care and upkeep as we’ve seen in numerous trailers the player feeding a befriending adorable Mooncalfs. While not all of the rideable mounts have been confirmed, there are a few we know for sure, such as the Hippogriff, and everyone who preorders the game will unlock the Thestral. There are also many rumored creatures such as the Phoenix and we can’t imagine we’ll end the game without riding a dragon at least once.
House Sorting
At the height of Harry Potter’s popularity, the many houses were the Zodiac signs of fans with many debating which house they and their friends would most fit in should they be sat down with the sorting hat. Hogwarts Legacy finally gives longtime fans the chance to sort themselves into the house of their choosing. Longtime fans who already have an account with the Harry Potter Fan Club can also link their account to Hogwarts Legacy and import their chosen house and custom wand into the game which will also unlock exclusive robes as well as the Beaked Skull Mask. Those who don’t already have an account can create one before the game’s launch and start with this exclusive content automatically unlocked.
Customize Everything
As with any RPG, customization is at the heart of the adventure and Hogwarts Legacy is giving players nearly unlimited options to create their own Witch or Wizard. Everything from their appearance, to their chosen house, even their wand, as well as their playstyle is all at the player’s fingertips. Students will also have access to the Room of Requirement which they can customize to their liking and use to upgrade their various skills even further outside of the classroom. This isn’t even mentioning the ability to build your own cottage and care for your numerous animal companions on the grounds. Those looking for the most immersive Hogwarts experience are going to have no shortage of ways to completely customize their own experience during their time at Hogwarts Castle.
