Sony has announced yet another PlayStation State of Play event, one that will focus solely on the upcoming Wizarding World game, Hogwarts Legacy. Many expected the title to appear during the previous March 2022 State of Play showcase, but were left disappointed with the lack of Harry Potter announcements.
Hogwarts Legacy takes place far before the events of the Harry Potter series, set in the 1800s, where players will be able to step into the shoes of a budding witch or wizard and enroll in the iconic Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Players will become a fifth-year student, be sorted into their House, and attend an array of magical classes known throughout the Wizarding World. Players can also expect to travel into the world beyond the school, visiting famous locations from the beloved franchise. Along with well-known areas, Hogwarts Legacy could feature famous characters, though as a prequel, plenty of new faces are expected.
Announcing the news across social media, PlayStation has confirmed the Hogwarts Legacy State of Play event will take place this Thursday, March 17 at 2 PM PT / 5 PM ET / 10 PM CET. Further news on the PlayStation Blog confirms players can expect the event to last around 20 minutes, with 14 minutes of new gameplay captured on PS5. According to the blog, excited witches and wizards will also see “some insight from a few members of the team at Avalanche Software who are bringing the Wizarding World to life.” While unconfirmed, it’s expected that a release date for the highly-anticipated title could finally be revealed during the showcase.
Due to its association with Harry Potter author, J.K Rowling, the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy has been mired in controversy since it was first announced. Rowling is a divisive figure due to her opinions on LGBTQ+ and transgender issues, and backlash following the game’s reveal caused Hogwarts Legacy to distance itself from the series creator. Despite people already planning to boycott the game at launch, the title is still one of the most highly-anticipated releases of the last few years thanks to the many Potter fans around the world.
Hogwarts Legacy is expected to release sometime in 2022, which means a release date for the title during State of Play looks likely. It’s also very possible that the game could be delayed yet again, as many studios continue to struggle against the global pandemic. That being said, fans have long been hoping for an RPG that would offer the opportunity to become a real Hogwarts student, and if the finished game lives up to expectations, it could become the defining Harry Potter video game experience that Hogwarts Legacy fans have been waiting for.
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
In the USA:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
- Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
- Switchboard: 01273 204050
- Mermaids: 0808 801 0400
