'Hogwarts Legacy' is one of two major installments in the Wizarding World franchise that will be entering our lives in 2022, and it might just be coming a lot sooner than you think.
The open-world game is being developed by Portkey Games, which is strictly dedicated to games set in the Wizarding World made famous in the 'Harry Potter' movies. It will be the first game in the 'Harry Potter' series that will allow players to explore the Wizarding World. Described as "an immersive, open-world action RPG", 'Hogwarts Legacy' is set to be a game-changer for the franchise.
However, don't expect to step into the shoes of Harry, Ron, or Hermione - the game is set in the late 1800s, which pits it the farthest away from the 'Harry Potter' timeline any Wizarding World entry, be it book or film, than anything else we've seen so far, even the 'Fantastic Beasts' film series, which is set in 1920. Nevertheless, we can still expect the same Wizarding World magic.
While it's been a year since we got our first look at 'Hogwarts Legacy' in the form of a pretty epic trailer, things have gone very quiet. We knew that 2022 was the year of release, but with no idea as to when to expect the title to hit the shelves. But now, it looks like we've finally got some news about when we'll be able to cast spells, tame fantastic beasts and generally being up to no good.
The game is set to launch following the release of the spin-off threequel 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore', the follow-up to 2018's 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald'. The new film is due for release on April 8, 2022, so we know we won't be getting our hands on 'Hogwarts Legacy' before then. So when will the game be available to purchase?
The news actually comes from a Reddit user who shared a review from Toy World magazine, where Warner Bros. General Manager Rachel Wakley suggested that the game would follow the next Wizarding World movie in 2022. No actual date was confirmed, but at least that gives us a window as to when we can expect it - which will be between April and Christmas.
Wakley elaborated on both releases, saying, "The second major release of 2022 will be for a new console game: Hogwarts Legacy. The reaction to the trailer has been amazing and it looks set to be a huge success. We know that gaming is such an important part of the market and one that we had to be involved in. From what we've seen, the launch will be well worth the wait and will deliver a unique way for fans to interact with the franchise."
Related: Is Hogwarts legacy open-world? Areas We'd Love to Visit in the Upcoming Game
While it sounds promising, the sooner the better, because even though 'Harry Potter' fans are obviously going to start getting excited for the next 'Fantastic Beasts' installment (despite the last one being critically slaughtered, and rightly so), the truth is there's a lot more appeal in an open-world game that's set in the 'Harry Potter' universe, even if none of the original characters are going to be in it. Sorting hat, here we come!
Originally, we should already be playing the game, as like many others - and many films too - it was scheduled for release this year, but was pushed back to 2022.
We'll have more news on 'Hogwarts Legacy' as soon as it unfolds.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!