Despite it not being released until February this year, it already sits as one of the bestselling games on Steam, illustrating how much hype remains behind the game. Avalanche Software is almost past the finish line and it has endured the worst thus far. With a successful launch, it could rival big 2023 titles like Starfield and Spider-Man 2.
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Hogwarts Legacy Faces Delays
Hogwarts Legacy is far from the only Harry Potter game. However, it looks like it could be the most immersive. Fans of the series have always been longing for a game that allows them to wander the halls of Hogwarts and experience life as a magical student. Hence, although Hogwarts Legacy was only officially announced in 2020, many gamers feel like they have been waiting much longer for it.
Unfortunately, Hogwarts Legacy has been pushed from 2022 into 2023. This is disappointing, as it had previously been lined up to launch just in time for the holiday season. For some gamers stuck on older platforms, the disappointment continues. Avalanche Software has also revealed that only the PC and current-gen versions of the game will launch first. Gamers on the last-gen consoles will have to wait until April while Switch gamers will only get to play in July. The announcement caused quite a swell of upset from fans, with some gamers canceling their pre-orders of Hogwarts Legacy. Nevertheless, as pre-order sales on PC reveal, this hasn’t been enough to completely kill the game’s hype, as it continues to top the Steam sales chart before its launch, beating colossal franchises such as Call of Duty and Destiny.
Hogwarts Legacy and J.K. Rowling
Although Hogwarts Legacy is based on an IP created by J.K. Rowling, the developers have been cautious to distance themselves from the author. This is mainly due to the transphobic views Rowling holds and the comments she has publicly made. For a long time, the two have managed to remain fairly separated, although this ended in late 2022 when Rowling decided to make comments about Hogwarts Legacy. Her comments have caused her to become associated with the game once again, leading to more calls for the game to be boycotted.
This puts gamers in a difficult position. Although they may not want to show any support for Rowling and her views, they may wish to support the developers who have put a lot of hard work into the game and do not align themselves with Rowling. Despite Rowling becoming a millstone around the game’s neck, it has not been permanently buried, and signs indicate that it is in for a big launch. This isn’t due to support for Rowling, but rather it is because developers have successfully convinced gamers that Hogwarts Legacy is a game worth playing.
These aren’t the only problems the game has faced. Some gamers have brought into question whether the antagonistic role of the goblins in Hogwarts Legacy doesn’t propagate antisemitic tropes, and others are upset that Quidditch will not be making an appearance, although broomstick racing will be present. Nevertheless, it appears that the Harry Potter IP is just too big to fail, and the eagerness for an immersive Wizarding World game is too widespread.
Hogwarts Legacy launches on February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with PS4 and Xbox One version coming on April 4 and the Switch version launching on July 25.
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