'Hogwarts Legacy': Release Date, Platforms, and More

Hogwarts Legacy takes place in the 1800s, which means your young wizard/witch's adventures transpire well before those of Harry Potter & the gang. The central plot thread of the game revolves around your character holding the key to some ancient secret that could destroy the wizarding world at large. Your main antagonists come in the form of two factions - the "Goblin Rebellion" and the "Dark Wizards." Some of the more recognizable characters from the Harry Potter books and movies that you'll run into include Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington aka "Nearly Headless Nick," Elizabeth Spriggs aka "The Fat Lady," and Peeves. There will also be a host of brand-new characters you'll interact with, such as a mentor figure named Professor Eleazar Fig and Phineas Nigellus Black (who's a prominent ancestor of Phineas Nigellus Black).

Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player action RPG where players get to enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attend classes, and embark on epic adventures inside/outside of the grand magical institution. Of course, you'll be assigned to one of the four houses that make up Hogwarts' student body upon your introduction - those houses include Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. The classes that'll better your wizard/witch's skillset include "Charms," "Defence Against the Dark Arts," "Herbology," and "Potions." The game's in-depth character creation/customization system lets you alter your young wizard/witch's gender, voice, and body type, plus you can attach various accessories to them such as glasses.

As you take on various challenges throughout Hogwarts Legacy, your wizard will begin to acquire a powerful suite of spells that they can rely on in battle during magical duels with their trusty wand in tow. Some of the spells that have been revealed thus far include "Incendio," "Petrificus Totalus," and "Stupefy." You can even learn unforgivable curses such as "Avada Kedavra," "Crucio," and "Imperio." As you level up your wizard/witch, their spells will in turn grow stronger - you'll ultimately have access to 16 different spells. The rest of your wizarding endeavors in this game include brewing potions and taming, mounting, and riding magical beasts such as the mythical "Hippogriff" and "Thestral."

Now for those wondering if the sport of Quidditch will be included in Hogwarts Legacy, we have some unfortunate news for you all - it sadly won't be playable. However, broom flight will be included - players will first have to take a "Flying" class in order to learn how to go airborne with their trusty broom, plus they can hop into assorted broom race challenges throughout their grand adventure. When it comes to making friends, you'll have a chance to mingle with your fellow Hogwarts students, create meaningful relationships through conversations, and call on them as worthy companions to your cause. And even though Hogwarts Legacy doesn't have any sort of morality system that pushes your wizard/witch toward the path of good or evil, the missions you'll embark on will influence your wizard/witch in some manner.

Most fans recognize Hogwarts as a mysterious labyrinth full of dungeons, hidden paths, and puzzles to encounter, which are all present and accounted for in Hogwarts Legacy. "The Room of Requirement" will be an integral part of your time within Hogwarts that can be visually altered alongside the game's other environmental customization features. Outside of the school walls, players will be able to explore iconic Harry Potter locales such as the "Forbidden Forest," "Diagon Alley", and "Hogsmeade Village." Speaking of Hogsmeade Village, PS5 and PS4 owners will get exclusive access to a mission that takes place at the location called "The Haunted Hogsmeade Shop Quest."