HOGWARTS LEGACY

First details of the Wizarding World RPG, Hogwarts Legacy

Set in the Wizarding World of the 1800s, Warner Bros and developer Avalanche’s open world RPG, Hogwarts Legacy, manages to distance itself from the trappings of Harry Potter’s saga (and to an extent author JK Rowling). You can now develop a wizard or witch of your own, and explore this historical depiction of the famous fantasy world on your own terms.

“Hogwarts Legacy gives players control over their own experience with RPG gameplay unlike anything else in the Wizarding World,” says David Haddad, president of Warner Bros Games. “Avalanche [Software; not to be confused with Avalanche Studios, which made Just Cause] has brought to life this rich and deep world, full of action-packed magic, as well as a detailed, mysterious story to engage fans and gamers alike.”

HOG WILD

This is a full roleplaying adventure in which you can be the hero of your own adventure. Attending Hogwarts will enable you to develop your character’s specific abilities, learn and master new spells, and make friends; these companions will join you on quests so pick your wannabe Hermione well.

Your friends matter too, as Avalanche Software teases missions and scenarios will offer choices that can affect what your hero stands for: will your Potter-a-like be more of a Malfoy? It seems your actions will affect much of the game’s world.

John Blackburn, studio general manager at Avalanche Software, says: “Hogwarts Legacy is so special because it allows players to immerse themselves in a new narrative that is filled with complex characters, and, of course, magic.”

The story is being kept under wraps for now, but we know it’ll take us beyond the walls of Hogwarts, to familiar locations reimagined in the historical time frame, including the Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade. Previously unseen areas of the Wizarding World will also feature.

POTTER GOLD

In action we see some of these environments. We can feel the worn

GO BEYOND THE WALLS OF HOGWARTS TO NEW PLACES.

oak in the halls of Hogwarts and the busy cobbled streets of Hogsmeade invite us to roam. But it’s the open spaces beyond these familiar walls that impress. It’s the first next-gen game that looks to be approaching the photoreal visual fidelity of Epic’s Unreal Engine 5 tech demo.

Combat in the game looks to match the visuals, with wand duels fizzing with beautiful lighting. When tackling the larger beasts of the Wizarding World it appears you’ll need to rely on your well-honed dodging skills; Hogwarts Legacy looks like being heavily reliant on the action in its action RPG approach.

The doors of Hogwarts reopen in 2021, leading on PS5 but also coming to PS4. It’s time to dust off your wizard’s robe.