By Jason Collins | Posted 2 hours ago
Another game has been hit with a crushing delay, and fans of the Harry Potter franchise will have to wait a couple more weeks before they can get their hands on the next Hogwarts legacy. The game was previously slated for a Holiday 2022 release window, but has been pushed to next year, as announced by the game’s publisher, Warner Bros., and its developer, Avalanche Software.
According to IGN, Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software have delayed the release of Hogwarts Legacy, a Harry Potter prequel set in the 19th century. It’s true that the game didn’t have a specific release date; it was slated for a Holiday 2022 release window, which had the potential to coincide with the announced PlayStation 5 restock, which would no doubt cause an even bigger stampede during Black Friday. No specific reason was given for the game’s delay – the team simply needs more time for the final polishing of the long-awaited title.
It’s worth noting that the delay only affects the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of Hogwarts Legacy. The release date for the Nintendo Switch version should be revealed soon, but considering how Switch versions of cross-platform releases always launch a couple of months later, we doubt it will arrive any sooner than other platforms. That said, both the game’s publisher and developer have revealed the game’s official release date, and those eagerly awaiting Hogwarts Legacy should wait until February 10, 2023.
Interestingly, the game was announced in January 2020, with initial plans to release Hogwarts Legacy on all major platforms in 2021. However, in January 2021, Warner Bros. announced that the game would be delayed to 2022, ensuring that the game gets “the time it needs.” The latest delay echoes that sentiment, as those behind the seemingly fantastic title say that the game needs more time, once again.
According to our previous report, the narrative of Hogwarts Legacy takes place in the Wizarding World during the 1800s, so a century or two before the events of the Harry Potter novels. The player character is a new witch or wizard who is not enrolled in school—through the sorting hat appears during character creation—but a fifth-year student at Hogwarts, where they learn advanced magic and ‘face their rivals and the darkness. wizard who besieges Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The delay, while overwhelming, is not the only point of contention surrounding the Hogwarts legacy. The announcement sparked heated discussions about its connection to the franchise’s author JK Rowling, who was criticized for her transphobic comments. The creatives responsible for Hogwarts Legacy have stated that the author is not directly involved in the game, although she is entitled to express her personal opinion. Several sources have since suggested that the game would allow for transgender character creation.
Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to launch on February 10, 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. The Nintendo Switch version of the game, while announced, has yet to receive an official release date.