All The Information We Know About Hogwarts Legacy

It’s been a long journey for Hogwarts Legacy since it was first announced by Warner Bros Games. After suffering a number of delays it seems that the latest entry in the Wizarding World is coming up quickly. What better time to take a look a game that is getting a lot of Harry Potter fans excited.

Hogwarts Legacy is the latest game set in the school of the same name and is due for release on 10 February for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One and PS4 versions will follow on 4th April with the Nintendo Switch version launching 25 July. Developed by Avalanche Software, the single-player open-world RPG will see a custom character head to lessons, learn the ropes of magic and embark on an sprawling story set in the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sadly for fans, you won’t be in the same time period as Harry, Ron and Hermione, rather sometime in the 1800s where the world is slowly becoming more evil thanks to an unknown threat.

Before we get too far ahead, let’s head back to school. Your character is a fifth year student who has transferred to the school and the first order of business is to be allocated into one of the four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. There’s even four allocated save slots for multiple playthroughs. Whatever house is chosen, that common room will be the base of your operations. With the story under lock and key we don’t know if players will be given specific house-related missions but with a deep RPG system, we’d expect you’ll need four playthroughs to experience everything Hogwarts Legacy has to offer.

Once you’ve settled into your new home, it’s off to explore the school grounds, participate in classes, learn how to duel with the combat system, and uncover a story with ties to dark magic. Once the story kicks into action, you’ll be able to explore the town of Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley plus other unannounced areas.

Avalanche Software have confirmed that for their vision of Hogwarts Legacy, the story is completely original and has not had any input from JK Rowling. However, the team has drawn inspiration from the books for areas like the Hufflepuff common room – an area that’s never been described in any media up until now. For this some consultation with ‘Rowling and her team’ has taken place.

For voice talents, Warner Bros have signed actor Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Star Trek, Mission Impossible) who will be taking on the role of Phineas Nigellus Black, the cantankerous Headmaster of Hogwarts. Originally sorted in the Slytherin house the headmaster is hated by the students and is very much ill-equipped to do the job. Professor Matilda Weasley, is the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Gryffindor alum is played by Lesley Nicol (Downton Abbey). Both of these surnames will be familiar to fans so it’ll be interesting to see how they interact with our character.

For fans of the Wizarding World, Hogwarts Legacy is shaping up to be one of the must play RPGs of the year and graphically it looks sound. It’s refreshing to go into a game knowing next to nothing about what will unfold.

As with any big AAA title, Hogwarts Legacy will come in several flavours, the usual assortment of physical and digital versions is present as well as a lovely collectors edition.

Preordering the standard edition you’ll get the base game a Onyx Hippogriff Mount to fly around the grounds. The Deluxe version gets you the same mount and a dark arts pack and 72 hours early access (PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only). PlayStation players will get additional quests and spell recipes as a timed-exclusive reward.

Those looking to go all in on Hogwarts Legacy can plump for the Collector’s Edition. This includes all of the above content with a steel book case, and a life size statue of a spell book and floating wand that looks incredible. The package is only available through Game in the UK and costs an eyewatering £279.99.

Unfortunately Switch players are stuck with the base game only.

Hogwarts Legacy releases 10 February for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One and PS4 versions will follow on 4th April. The Nintendo Switch version releases 25 July.