Hogwarts Legacy, the highly-anticipated Harry Potter game, has just released a new cinematic trailer that acts as a sort of tour of the locations and enemies of the game. The trailer gives fans a glimpse of the game’s world, including a new connection to modern-day Harry Potter.
New Connections to Modern-Day Harry Potter
The trailer includes a passing mention of a “Professor Weasley,” who is fielding questions from students about some sort of magic problem. This would be an ancestor to the Weasley’s we know from the original series.
Given that this is the year 1890, this would probably be what, the great-great-grandmother of Ron, Ginny, and the others? This new connection adds an interesting layer to the game, making it an exciting prospect for fans of the Harry Potter series.
Exploring Familiar Locations
The trailer also gives fans a glimpse of familiar locations such as the Forbidden Forest, where students are seen fighting off giant spiders. We also see wizards battling a dragon, adding to the game’s excitement.
Huge Release of the Year
Hogwarts Legacy is currently shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of the year, topping pre-sale charts on Steam, Epic, PlayStation, and Xbox, currently in the #1 or #2 spot even a month ahead of its February 10th launch.
As a multi-platform offering, it has the potential to expand its reach beyond games like Starfield, Final Fantasy XVI, or Tears of the Kingdom. With no new Call of Duty out this year, its only real competition is expected to be Diablo 4, set to release this summer.
Controversy Surrounding the Game
Hogwarts Legacy continues to spark one of the most heated culture wars in the last few years of gaming, one that divides players who believe buying and playing the game is tacit support of JK Rowling and her transphobic views, and those who subscribe to the idea that you can separate Rowling from the team that created the game, and bring up other examples of games supporting unethical executives or studios that have not drawn similar ire.
Can the Game Deliver on its Promise?
Despite the controversy surrounding the game, there is simply no stopping Hogwarts Legacy from being a huge hit, as the pre-sales numbers already reflect. The biggest question is whether or not the game can possibly deliver on its promise from a relatively untested studio working on a behemoth undertaking.
Early footage and information all seem promising, but gamers have been fooled by promotional materials and trailers before, so it remains to be seen if the game can live up to the hype.
Conclusion
Hogwarts Legacy is set to launch on February 10th on multiple platforms, including Steam, Epic, PlayStation, Xbox, and even a Switch port coming later. Fans of the Harry Potter series and gamers alike are eagerly awaiting the release of this highly-anticipated game.