The release of Pokémon GO tapped into the massive fandom of the 20-year Pokémon franchise, pushing the augmented reality mobile game into great heights. It was estimated that the app was downloaded a combined 75 million times across iOS and Android devices within a few weeks since its release, showcasing the immense popularity of Pokémon GO.
The success of Pokémon GO has spawned discussions on which franchises could also work great with the augmented reality system that developer Niantic Labs has created. One of the most mentioned franchises in such discussions is Harry Potter.
Harry Potter fans have clamored for a version of Pokémon GO that instead revolves around the world created by J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter fandom is arguably every bit as strong and as dedicated as the Pokémon fandom, and so an augmented reality mobile game focused on the Harry Potter universe has the potential to do just as well, and perhaps even better, than Pokémon GO.
Over the weekend, Harry Potter fans were treated to reports that Niantic was indeed planning to release a Harry Potter-themed Pokémon GO, with all reports being traced back to an article on a website named JTXH News.
According to the article, due to popular demand, Niantic has started working on the development of the Harry Potter augmented reality mobile game. Instead of catching and training Pokémon, the Harry Potter app would see gamers establish and manage wizardry schools that are scattered throughout the real world, while completing quests to acquire spells and engaging in large-scale magical combat against rival factions.
The article quoted an IGN interview with Niantic senior developer Marcus Figueroa, who stated that the company has acquired the rights to the app and that it could be launched as soon as early next year. The publication added that Figueroa said that the Pokéstops in Pokémon GO will be transformed into witchcraft and wizardry schools in the project, with a quest system and interactive events also possibly coming to the title.
The news drummed up excitement about the project, seeing Harry Potter fans rejoice over the upcoming app.
Sadly though, the news is a hoax, as debunked by Gizmodo. Figueroa does not show up as a person who is connected to Niantic Labs, and when clicking on the source article's link to the supposed IGN interview, an error message appears.
The strongest evidence on the article being a hoax is a look at the other contents of JTHX News. The homepage is blank, and scouring the website reveals fake news articles that seemingly are just made up to gain clicks.
That sound you just heard is the collective groan of the Harry Potter fandom. While this does not mean that a Harry Potter game in the same vein as Pokémon GO will never come to fruition, fans will have to wait longer until development on such a heavily demanded app begins.
