Anticipation is at the cauldron's boiling point for the forthcoming debut of Hogwarts Legacy, a new title out of WB Games that was first announced nearly three years ago. After several delays, one of which will even see last-gen copies released a few months after the initial rollout, the much-anticipated experience will finally turn enthusiastic gamers into the wizards and witches they have longed to become on February 10th.
On the cusp of its debut, a new 4K cinematic trailer has been released showcasing the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's newfound digital grounds and castle. The short snippet is only a taste of what fans can expect as an owl swoops through the various halls, classrooms, and moving staircases that occupy the interior of Hogwarts.
The Great Hall gets its much-needed 4K viewing treatment, with its beautiful array of floating candles enticing fans, while a quick look at returning character Nearly Headless Nick proves the game will stick as close as possible to its source material. In addition to the castle's interior, a large swath of Hogwarts' outer grounds will also be available to explore, with potential for such well-known Harry Potter-related areas as Azkaban and Hogsmeade making appearances in the game.
Although quidditch won't be making a return from previous titles in the franchise, broomstick riding will play a major role in the deep exploration that underpins Hogwarts Legacy. This can only mean the map is suitably large for such a mechanic, as even taming animals and riding them will be a huge draw for some. The cinematic trailer gives fans a small glimpse of such mystical creatures to expect, the main among them being a massive dragon spouting flames at nearby students.
Related Article: 'Hogwartys Leagcy' Has Been Delayed to 2023! But Why?
On the magic side of things, players won't have too much to worry about. An ample amount of varied defensive and offensive spells will be making waves throughout the adventure in Hogwarts Legacy, with the more recent video highlighting the deadly Avada Kedavra curse in all of its terrifying green hue glory. Players will be allowed to set their own morality in the game, taking on the role of dark lord or hero as they so choose.
The cinematic trailer concludes with a new student getting their admittance letter into Hogwarts. The game has already amassed an incredible following, beaming to the top of games sales for both Steam and PS5 and coming in only at second for Xbox, an incredible achievement for a game that has drawn much ire from several parties across the internet.
An ongoing boycott of Hogwarts Legacy is creating quite a stir online of late, as many within the trans community see the game as problematic, given its ties to JK Rowling, creator of the Wizarding World IP and oft-labeled transphobia peddler. Many have voiced concerns that buying and thus playing the game will only be detrimental to the trans community, while others see it more as a long-awaited Harry Potter adventure that, as far as the developers are concerned, has no ties whatsoever to its much-maligned creator.
Beating out the likes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 speaks volumes on its outward acceptance and hype, proving that while Hogwarts Legacy may be drawing many sour thoughts, fans are still readily excited to delve into Hogwarts and its many lingering secrets. The game is bound for release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X come February 10th, while last-gen console and Nintendo Switch players will have to wait until July 25th.
