Hogwarts Legacy: Everything we know so far

Hogwarts Legacy is one of the most anticipated new games of 2023. This upcoming open-world RPG will let you live a life at the famed school of witchcraft and wizardry. You'll enroll as a late-admission fifth-year student of Hogwarts, set years before the events of the films or books, and be able to choose your house and define your own adventure.

A recent Hogwarts Legacy gameplay showcase went in-depth on the character creation system, although there's plenty more information out there on the game. With the release date fast approaching, there's a lot of Hogwarts Legacy news out there right now. We have information on the story and setting and details on the character creation, companions, and combat too. So keep on reading to discover everything you need to know about Hogwarts' legacy.

Hogwarts Legacy release date

The Hogwarts Legacy release date is now set for February 10, 2023, for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC players. A Hogwarts Legacy Switch release is anticipated; however, developer Avalanche Software has yet to set a launch date. The game was originally scheduled to release in 2022 for all platforms; however, publisher Warner Bros. Games announced on August 12, 2022, that there would be a short Hogwarts Legacy delay so that the team could "deliver the best possible game experience."

Hogwarts Legacy platforms

Warner Bros. Games has set the Hogwarts Legacy platforms as PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. We have already seen the Hogwarts Legacy system requirements for PC, and they caught some players off guard. This has led to speculation that the Nintendo Switch version (which remains without a release date) will be a cloud game; this has yet to be confirmed, but we're expecting more clarity on this in the weeks ahead.

Hogwarts Legacy trailer

The first Hogwarts Legacy trailer was revealed on September 16, 2020, at a Sony PS5 showcase event. The trailer, which you can watch above, sets the stage for what is undoubtedly the most ambitious game set in the Harry Potter universe to date. The teaser gives us a brief look at Hogwarts circa the 1800s, a variety of classes, and a brief look at the sorting hat ceremony.

Hogwarts Legacy gameplay trailer

The Hogwarts Legacy gameplay trailer arrived as part of a dedicated PS5 State of the Play session. The 14-minute video, which you can watch just above, goes into detail on the world, setting, and concept behind Hogwarts Legacy. This was complemented by a five-minute-long behind-the-scenes video (which opens in a new tab) featuring interviews with the dev team.

Hogwarts Legacy pre-order

Hogwarts Legacy pre-orders are already live in the US and UK. There are benefits to putting down some cash now too, especially with three versions of the game currently available. There's an exclusive Onyx Hippogriff Mount available as a Hogwarts Legacy pre-order bonus across all platforms, while PS5 and PS4 owners can get a Felix Felicis Potion item and access to an exclusive Haunted Hogsmeade Shop quest by pre-ordering via the PlayStation store. There's also a Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition, which includes 72 hours of early access to the game, and a Dark Arts Pack, which includes additional themed in-game items.

Hogwarts Legacy Collector's Edition

The Hogwarts Legacy Collector's Edition was unveiled on August 24, 2022. The limited edition bundle comes with everything that's included in the Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition—including the 72-hour early access and Dark Arts Pack—as well as a suite of other exclusive content. You'll get an Onyx Hippogriff Mount, a Kelpie Robe to dress your character in, a steel case to hold the game, and a life-size floating Ancient Magic Wand with Book Base. It's an exciting package that, naturally, comes with a pretty large price tag.

Hogwarts Legacy Price

Warner Bros. Games has confirmed the Hogwarts Legacy price across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms. They are as follows, at the time of writing:

Hogwarts Legacy price: PS5 and Xbox Series X: $69.99 / £64.99
Hogwarts Legacy price for PS4 and Xbox One is $59.99 or £54.99.
Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition price for PS5 and Xbox One: $79.99 / £74.99
Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition Price: PS4 and Xbox One: $69.99 / £64.99
Hogwarts Legacy Collector's Edition price for PS5 and Xbox Series X is $299.99 or £279.99.
Hogwarts Legacy Collector's Edition price: PS4 and Xbox One: $294.99 and £274.99, respectively.

Hogwarts Legacy story details

The Hogwarts Legacy story will take us to the wizarding world circa the 1800s, which is 100 years before the events of the Harry Potter books. Hogwarts Legacy features an original story that will allow us to experience life as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts, granted late admittance as we hold the key to an "ancient secret" that is threatening the world of witchcraft and wizardry. Avalanche Software says that we'll embark on "a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world" in Hogwarts Legacy, visit some familiar locations, and meet a brand new cast of characters.

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world setting.

The Hogwarts Legacy setting extends beyond the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world experience, and so we'll eventually be able to travel to surrounding locations like the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village—and some entirely new locations that Warner Bros. Games is yet to reveal. Naturally, it's the fully-realized Hogwarts Castle that's the main draw, particularly as we'll be given the freedom to attend classes, grow our magical abilities, brew potions, tame magical beasts, discover Hogwarts' hidden dungeons and secret passageways, and get involved with challenging puzzles that are scattered all throughout the school.

Hogwarts Legacy gameplay

From the Hogwarts Legacy gameplay we've seen so far, it's clear that developer Avalanche Software really is building a sprawling action-RPG set in the wider Harry Potter universe. You'll be able to create your own character, sort them into a house, and then role-play as a student at Hogwarts. You will learn new magical abilities and how to brew potions in classes, face off against creatures and dark powers in wand-to-wand combat out in the world, and level up your skills and equipment as you gain new experience. Hogwarts Legacy really sounds like the Harry Potter RPG we've wanted for decades.

Hogwarts Legacy combat

Hogwarts Legacy will empower you to become the witch or wizard that you've always wanted to be. You'll be able to wield a wand and learn spells like Levioso, Incendio, Flipendo, and Oppugno, which are taught in classes and learned from other companions you meet at the school. There are 20 total spells that you can assign to slots for use in combat, and you can freely build combos between those spells and basic magic shots, limited only by brief cooldown windows. Bits fit into categories like "damage" or "control," and those categories are color-coded to help you break the shields of enemy spell-slingers. There's a Batman Arkham-style dodge mechanic to help you get out of the way of incoming attacks. You'll also be able to imbue your combat abilities by brewing potions back at the school and boost your effectiveness in combat by investing XP into a talent system that will allow you to further hone your playstyle.

Hogwarts Legacy character creation

Like so many of the best RPGs, you'll be able to tinker with the look and style of your witch or wizard to get them just right. You'll choose a preset character to start with and go deeper to granularly select your face shape, hairstyle, complexion, and eyes. There are no slider minutiae here; all of the options are split across an array of presets. You can choose your character's voice and whether they stay at the witch or wizard dormitory independently of their appearance.

Hogwarts Legacy Houses

One of the biggest decisions you'll have to make in Hogwarts Legacy is picking your hose and wand. As a newly enrolled fifth-year student, you'll go through the Sorting Hat ceremony, although Hogwarts Legacy will let us decide whether we want to link up with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, or Ravenclaw. You can already get the process started; a partnership with the Wizarding World website means that you'll be able to import your pre-existing house and wand. If you haven't already, sign up for a Wizarding World account (opens in a new tab) and take the Wand Ceremony and Sorting Ceremony quizzes to make sure that you're sorted come February 10, 2023.

Hogwarts Legacy common rooms

We've seen teases of all four Hogwarts Legacy common rooms, and they are pretty spectacular. Each of the four Hogwarts houses—Griffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw—has its own exclusive common rooms. These are areas where you'll be able to relax and interact with your fellow students, meet different NPCs, and find unique items and locations to interact with. Impressively, each common room also includes its own unique entrance—for example, the Slytherin door is revealed by a slithering stone serpent, while the Hufflepuff entrance is concealed behind what appears to be a giant keg. It's little touches like this that really dial in the role-play aspect of Hogwarts Legacy.

Hogwarts Legacy classes

As you chart your own path as a young witch or wizard, you'll need to participate in Hogwarts Legacy classes. You'll be able to attend classes such as Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, and Potions to learn how to cast new spells, brew potions, grow magical plants, and more. There is also a flying class that will help you master the art of broomstick flying and make exploring the wider Hogwarts castle grounds a little easier. We know that there will be professors to meet, although Avalanche Software has yet to detail how in-depth any of the Hogwarts Legacy classes will truly be.

Hogwarts Legacy Quidditch

Hogwarts Legacy broom flight has been confirmed; however, we do know that the Wizarding World's most popular pastime will not feature here. That's right, Quidditch will not be playable in Hogwarts Legacy. It's certainly a shame, although Avalanche Software has promised that broom flight will be used for traversal, allowing you to explore new and familiar locations surrounding Hogwarts Castle and that there will also be broom race challenges that you can take part in. So if I dust off my PS2, is anybody up for a couple of rounds of 2003's Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup?

Hogwarts Legacy characters and companions

Hogwarts Legacy is being billed as an in-depth RPG, so of course, there will be plenty of characters and companions to meet along the way. You'll be able to befriend other students at the school and even take them out into the world with you as companions to aid in combat and exploration. Right now, there are three Hogwarts Legacy companions confirmed: Natsai Onai, Poppy Sweeting, and Sebastian Sallow.

Outside of directly assisting your adventure, characters can also teach you new spells and unlock more story content as you become friends and learn about their backstories. You'll also encounter familiar Harry Potter ghosts, such as Nearly Headless Nick, Peeves, and Professor Cuthbert Binns; and as a fifth-year student, you'll also be able to interact with a variety of professors at the school, including those who teach charms, defense against the dark arts, potions, and herbology.

Hogwarts Legacy microtransactions

The downloadable Dark Arts Pack, which is bundled with the Deluxe Edition, and the appearance of activities bound by timers made some players concerned that there would be Hogwarts Legacy microtransactions to contend with. Thankfully, Warner Bros. Games has confirmed that "there are no micro-transactions in Hogwarts Legacy." However, players who pick up the standard edition of the game can purchase the Dark Arts Pack of in-game items separately if they want to, although Warner has again confirmed that "there are no other items for purchase in the game."

Hogwarts Legacy system requirements

The Hogwarts Legacy system requirements have been listed by Avalanche Software on the game's official Steam page (opens in a new tab). The Hogwarts Legacy's minimum and recommended requirements are as follows:

What is Hogwarts' legacy?

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action-RPG set in the wizarding world of Harry Potter. The Hogwarts Legacy period is confirmed to be the 1800s, which means it is set long before any of the other books, films, or video games, so expect to see a few familiar faces. However, you will be able to create your own fifth-year student, choose your house and wand, and then take classes at Hogwarts, applying that knowledge to help you explore outside of the castle walls and fight other spellcasters and all sorts of fantastic beasts (if you know where to find them).

Is Hogwarts Legacy coop?

There is no Hogwarts Legacy multiplayer support, as developer Avalanche Software has confirmed that it is a strictly single-player RPG. So while we'd love to see Hogwarts Legacy's co-op functionality, allowing us to explore the fabled castle grounds with a friend, sadly, we will be enrolling in the school of witchcraft and wizardry alone when Hogwarts Legacy releases in February 2023.

Is J.K. Rowling involved in Hogwarts' Legacy?

After J.K. Rowling made transphobic comments, there has been concern surrounding the author's involvement in the creation of the Hogwarts Legacy. Warner Bros. states that "J.K. Rowling was not directly involved in the creation of the game; however, her extraordinary body of work is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World." The publisher also notes that Hogwarts Legacy "is not a new story from J.K. Rowling."

Although she is not involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, GamesRadar+ acknowledges the role of J.K. Rowling in the creation of the Wizarding World, as well as her publicly stated, harmful views regarding the rights of transgender people. If you’d like to offer your support to the communities affected by Rowling’s rhetoric, consider donating to the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US or to Mermaids in the UK.

Menu