By Jason Collins | Posted 4 hours ago
Yet another game has been hit by a crushing delay, and fans of the Harry Potter franchise will have to wait a few more weeks before they can get their hands on the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy. The game was previously slated for a holiday 2022 release window, but has been pushed back 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 delayed the release of Hogwarts Legacy, a Harry Potter prequel set in the 1800s. Admittedly, the game didn’t have a specific release date. It was slated for a holiday 2022 release window, potentially coinciding with the announced PlayStation 5 refresh, which would no doubt cause even more buzz during Black Friday. No specific reason was given for the game’s delay — the team simply needs more time to put the finishing touches on 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 will be revealed soon, but considering how the Switch versions of the multi-platform versions are always released a few months later, we doubt it will arrive any sooner than on other platforms. With that being said, both the publisher and developer of the game have revealed the official release date of the game and those who are eagerly waiting for Hogwarts Legacy will have to wait until February 10, 2023. Interestingly enough, the game was announced in January 2020, with original 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 will take “the time it needs”. The latest delay echoes that sentiment as those behind this seemingly fantastic title say the game needs more time — once again. As per our previous report, the Hogwarts Legacy narrative takes place in the Wizarding world during the 1800s, 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 the school – through the Sorting Hat appears during character creation – but a fifth student at Hogwarts, where they learn advanced magic and face their rivals and dark wizards that surround Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The delay, while overwhelming, isn’t the only talking point surrounding Hogwarts Legacy. The announcement sparked heated debate over its connection to the franchise’s author JK Rowling, who has come under fire for her transphobic comments. The creatives responsible for Hogwarts Legacy have stated that the author is not directly involved with the game, although she has the right to express her personal opinion. Various sources have since suggested that the game would allow the creation of transgender characters. Hogwarts Legacy is slated for release 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, although announced, has yet to receive an official release date.
