Another year and another phase of the Harry Potter fever has hit the entertainment world. Hogwarts Legacy was released on Feb. 10 and shook the gaming world with its immersive experience as a character in the wizarding world. Deemed a contender to become the number one game of 2023, Hogwarts Legacy has spiked both controversy and excitement in his new exploration of the world of Harry Potter.
Although the gameplay and story do not follow the original plotline of “Harry Potter,” players are able to create a character and have a story of their own set 200 years ago. Players are introduced as a 5th-year student that mysteriously gets accepted into Hogwarts and has an extraordinary power that sets their character apart from all the NPCs. The character is able to see ancient power, something that has only been seen twice before in the wizarding world. Like every other video game, you need an antagonist that goes against the main character. This time an evil Goblin named Ragnarok instead of Voldemort. The game offers many choices that determine the fate of the main character and sometimes might even affect the gameplay and its ending. One of the many choices that players make is choosing a Hogwarts house to be placed in. Many speculate that depending on which house the players chose, the content and side quests differ for each house. The players are also exposed to many different relationships with other characters in the game and can freely explore the school grounds. “Hogwarts Legacy” also offers Hogsmeade and an open word map that allows the player to run around and complete side quests besides the main story progression.
Another fun aspect that makes the gameplay so unique is the addition of the Unforgivable Curses that players can learn through the character Sebastian Sallow. Out of the three Unforgivable Curses, Avada Kedavra is the most powerful spell that players can learn in the game. This spell instantly kills the creature or person in front of the character, staying true to its book counterpart which can one-shot eliminate an enemy or friend. Players are also able to level up these spells to cause more damage, making the gameplay ultimately easier.
Just within weeks of release, Hogwarts Legacy became the number one choice of watch on Twitch, beating other popular genres of games like “Valorant” and “League of Legends.” Even though Hogwarts Legacy has riled up the gaming community and die-hard Harry Potter fans who are willing to do anything for a chance to play the game, some controversy surrounds the game. It is widely known that the wizarding world was created by J.K. Rowling, and the game is based on her world and writing. Because of the controversy surrounding Rowling and the transphobia on her social media, some are wondering if buying the game and supporting her is ethical. Social media platforms have both supported and denounced the game, calling out the author of the series while glamorizing the gameplay of “Hogwarts Legacy.” Players are torn between deciding if playing the game is right or wrong, creating a chaotic debacle on whether or not the community should separate the art from the artist. Others, however, argue that they are justified in their choice to play the game due to the fact that Rowling had nothing to do with the production of the game. The game developers of “Hogwarts Legacy” have stated that they only wanted the players to experience the magical world of Harry Potter, and did not expect the onslaught of “boycotting” the game because of Rowling’s statements.
The wizarding world of Harry Potter has undoubtedly fascinated a generation of readers with its depiction of magic and adventure. Avalanche Software, collaborating with Warner Bros, has made the experience real and true for all gamers and fans out there. With the mix of controversy and admiration surrounding the release of the game, Hogwarts Legacy will likely continue to be the hot topic of the gaming community of the year.