18 January 2023 , 17:56
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Images from the official artbook for Hogwarts Legacy have appeared online which reveal a slew of new details about the game ahead of its launch next month.
Pages from the artbook for the game set in the Harry Potter universe, initially posted to Twitter by user @ManwithSecrets, then reuploaded by @gamer_tweak, show images of the game's version of various places that feature in the books and films. It includes Hogwarts greenhouse, festive artwork of Hogsmeade, as well as a Destiny-style character inventory screen complete with slots to equip different kinds of wands, brooms, and clothing.
Also included was a page featuring an early version of Hogwarts Legacy’s world map which, considering Hogwarts appears to be little more than a small cluster of buildings by the lake on it, looks absolutely huge.
A version of the world map was briefly shown during a Sony State of Play broadcast dedicated to Hogwarts Legacy in March of last year. We also got a look at the game's narrative and what the team at Avalanche had accomplished in trying to make Hogwarts Legacy feel like it was part of the wider Wizarding world.
They then posted specific details about the game mentioned in the book including that it'll reportedly take around 35 hours to get complete the main campaign, and around 70 to hit 100% completion, which includes ticking off all of the side quests.. The 85GB of hard drive space needed to install Avalanche Software’s open-world RPG on PC makes a lot more sense now, although apparently the size of the map has been scaled back since the game’s initial reveal.
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Quidditch was also said to have featured in the game at some point but was also cut. A full spoiler-filled rundown of what was revealed in the book was also posted to Reddit by user Spheromancer, so if you don't mind having the surprise ruined, you can check out further details there.
The PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions of Hogwarts Legacy are out on Friday, February 10. The title then hits PS4 and Xbox One on April 4, and finally the Nintendo Switch on July 25.
Wider Wizarding World
Controversies surrounding she who must not be named aside, I think Hogwarts Legacy is shaping up to be an enjoyable adventure with plenty to see and do that will please fans of the source material while adding to it in meaningful ways.
The bits and pieces uncovered in the artbook, along with what I have seen of the game so far, has me hopeful. Although it's far from gaming's first foray into The Wizarding World, it is likely to be the most complete and exciting one to date.
I’ve been pushed from being firmly on the fence to thinking it will be a great game for fans, and am now genuinely curious to see what Avalanche's Knights of the Old Republic-style take on the Potterverse will be like to play through and explore.
Yes, its another big game in what feels like an endless barrage of long games (I’m still playing God of War Ragnarok, I’ve barely scratched the surface of Pokemon Scarlet, and the new Fire Emblem is bound to take over my life come Friday). But at least it looks like, for Potter fans at the very least, it will be worth the investment.