Hogwarts Legacy release date, lore, and gameplay revealed

Avalanche Software is bringing good tidings to all Harry Potter fans still waiting for their acceptance letters. Here’s what we know about the highly anticipated Hogwarts Legacy including its release date, gameplay details, and story.

Fans of Harry Potter have played through all sorts of games to indulge in their Hogwarts fantasies. The new Harry Potter-themed open-world RPG is looking to be everything fans have ever expected and more. Hogwarts Fantasy is the latest title that would bring the famed school to virtual reality 25 years after the first installment’s release.

Avalanche Software and Sony Interactive Entertainment’s 14-minute gameplay provides a peek in the Forbidden Forest, Hogsmeade Village, and other familiar spots from the coveted franchise.

What is the Hogwarts Legacy release date?

Hogwarts Legacy was originally announced for 2021, but some internal hiccups have pushed the game to 2022. The highly-anticipated RPG will launch during the 2022 holiday season on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. 

The exact release date is still unknown, but the publisher is actively pushing out in-game peeks and entertaining content to build anticipation. The short state of play video provides a good idea of game lore and characters. These updates and teasers should help players warm up before “apparating” into Hogwarts. 

Hogwarts Legacy gameplay explained 

Early looks at gameplay show that Hogwarts Legacy is quite similar to the movies in terms of its charms, spells, abilities, and even backstory. The game allows players to create a custom character who’s a student at Hogwarts. The player will first sit under the magical hat for the process of sorting. Once it’s determined which of the four school houses you belong to, the game’s quests will begin.

Like the movie, you must attend potion classes, dark arts, herbology, history of magic, and more. While these classes may be tedious, whatever you learn here will add to your skillset. Spells aren’t all that’ll be used to fight out mercenaries. Players can utilize their theoretical learning and a deep set of upgrades on the battlefield. Mastering spells, brewing potions, and taming magical beasts will boost abilities. 

What happens in Hogwarts Legacy? 

Hogwarts Legacy is much different compared to the books, so what happens in the game will be unfamiliar to series fans. The game takes place about 100 years before Harry Potter and friends enroll at Hogwarts. So don’t be bummed if you don’t see your favorite characters in this game that’s set in the 1800s. 

Nearly Headless Nick appears to be the only familiar face, or ghost, in the gameplay trailer. There are a few other recreations from the books to be found. For example, the famous first duel on top of the table between Malfoy and Harry Potter is referenced. Other than that, Avalanche has whipped up a brand new story that seems promising. 

There appears to be a cold war between the wizards and Goblins, the brilliant race known to control the economy in the Hogwarts universe. This goblins rebellion might be at the center of the game’s lore. However, nothing can be said for sure yet. The gameplay trailer did confirm some modes of fighting, but no mention of typical Harry Potter villains was made. So it’s fair to assume Goblins will be stirring some trouble in the magical center of Great Britain.