For years, fans have wanted a AAA blockbuster Harry Potter game. While EA played around with the series when it was at its prime, they never really capitalised on the rights. We’ve since seen a few Harry Potter games, including the recently released free-to-play mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery/ Next year Pokémon Go developer Niantic will also release their own Harry Potter: Wizard Unite.
That’s not exactly what fans have been asking for though. Given the rich lore, the Harry Potter universe would be ripe for a AAA RPG epic – and it looks like that’s coming. Spotted over at Press Start, there’s leaked footage of an impending Harry Potter RPG by way of a focus tester who very obviously broke an NDA. The video shows off a few locations, characters, spells and monsters from the Harry Potter universe. While Press Starts postulates that the game could be Rocksteady’s next game, I’m of the opinion that they’re still very much in the superhero business, and their next game will focus on the Justice League. Instead, it’s likely that the game is being developed by Avalanche Studios. Not the Avalanche that makes Just Cause (and is working on Rage 2 with Bethesda), but rather the Avalanche that used to make Disney Infinity, and was acquired by Warner Bros last year.
Either way, it looks great, and I’m all in. It’ll likely be shown off at this year’s Games Awards, or depending on its state, at next year’s E3.
Here’s descriptor text apparently from the focus group, though it is riddled with spelling and grammar erros.
Set in the 19th Century (1800’s) Wizarding World, this 3rd person open-world action RPG game centers around your character with unique abilities who has eared a late acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You are a newly arrived 5th year student to Hogwarts that demonstrates a latent gift for magic with a unique ability to track and identify remnants of a pottant ancient power. Upon arrival, strange events begin to materialize In the Forbidden Forrest and trouble begins o brew within the castle walls. Together with Professor Elezar Fig, you embark on a journey through both familiar and never before seen locations to bring to light the truth behind these mysterious occurrences.
On your quest you will craft potions, master new spells, and discover fantastical beasts. You will battle Dark Wizards, Goblins, and other supernatural enemies and uncover the truth about your destiny – the Fate of the Wizarding World lies in your hands.
FEATURES
- Journey to Hogwarts to become one of 8 different Wizard types
- Experience Hogwarts, make new friends, uncover new secrets, and change the fate of the Wizarding world.
- Experience a new magic system that creates countless possibilities to master magic.
- Freely explore the Wizarding World for the first time., Choose your house and friends at Hogwarts, and decide to pursue a path of good or evil.
- Create your own witch or wizard, and experience a all new story separate from the books or films
Last Updated: October 3, 2018
Kromas
October 2, 2018 at 08:37
I won’t lie. That looked good.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 08:37
Oh I hope this is true! Looks bloody brilliant! People are going to lose their shit over this if it’s awesome.
Dresden
October 2, 2018 at 08:44
I will for sure! I find it a bit strange that you start in the 5th year though…
I would of liked playing the entire experience from the start – getting your wand, pet and all that good stuff.
Perhaps you still can, and I probably shouldn’t speculate on rumours.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 08:59
If this does well, they could well add features like that into a sequel.
But for story purposes, I can understand them only focussing on a later year. Keeps the narrative tighter. And your character already knows his basic spells.
Wait, 5th year. Um, damn, trying to remember the books now… By 5th year, I think they’ve already done their OWL and NEWT exams? Can’t recall, read them all so long ago.
Dresden
October 2, 2018 at 09:04
You do OWL’s at the end of year 5.
So I can see how it would be interesting to start with your core spells and learn all the new and advanced stuff from there on in, but you can understand why I would want to start at the very beginning.
It would just be so much more immersive for me personally.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 09:11
I totally get it, I honestly do.
I’d also love to go all the way from year 1. My only concern with doing that is the story. You’d need to keep the story elements strong enough and gripping enough all the way through.
As great as the world is, if the stories being told are weak, it’s going to get a LOT of flak.
To see an example of that, let’s just look at the recent Star Wars stuff, the DC movies.
And how many games based of popular franchises have bombed because they were poorly done?
Dresden
October 2, 2018 at 09:17
*sigh* you’re right, I was just getting excited over the prospect of this game…
They are going to have to walk a tightrope here to try and keep everyone happy.
Rather them than me, because it’s going to be one difficult task to pull off!
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 09:21
Ah dude, please don’t let me dampen your excitement!
I am also SUPER excited for this one. The couple of Potter games I have played were most certainly geared toward youngsters. And the fact that they were all based on the movies ended up restricting them.
This has SO much potential. I’m hoping that they don’t screw it up, but as you say, it’s a tightrope walk. Gawd, more of a razor’s edge, IMO. And below there are mutant, ill-tempered sea bass.
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 09:42
the wizarding world was always the best part of those books, hogwarts, diagon alley etc, losing the chance to marvel at those places for the first time does sorta hurt.
But lets be realistic now, having an eleven year old protagonist does limit your options for telling a more mature harry potter story.
5th year can sorta be seen as the real start of your life, wizarding adulthood, it provides much more options in terms of violence and shenanigans.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 09:44
They could make the first 4 years the tutorial, which gives them a chance to include those things? I don’t want to start the 5th year with a tutorial
G8crasha
October 2, 2018 at 08:44
You know, come to think of it, as far as I am aware, we’ve never had a magic game where your only weapon was a wand. Yes, some RPGs, etc. allow you to use a wand, but you have other weapons as well to choose from. With a Harry Potter game, chances are you would only have a wand to use and nothing else. This game does look fantastical though, and I would love to see it officially announced.
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 09:36
proceding to lose shit
HvR
October 2, 2018 at 09:43
soek jy nou kak?
Pariah
October 2, 2018 at 12:31
No, he’s trying to lose it… Can’t you read?
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 13:13
Not finding, losing.
Ghost In The Rift
October 2, 2018 at 08:42
Net genoeg omi bek spills te maak….That looks legit, don’t mind it at all but remember this has EA’s taint all over it.
Geoffrey Tim
October 2, 2018 at 08:43
..this has nothing to do with EA. It’s Warner, and inhouse dev Avalanche.
Ghost In The Rift
October 2, 2018 at 08:47
Ahhh…was under the impression EA still holds rights to the IP or did WB just use EA for development…The only Potter game i played was Half Blood Prince i think.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 08:51
Hmmm, I would prefer something like a sorting hat rather than choosing a house…perhaps talking to someone on the way there, and the way you interact with them determines your house?
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 08:53
Even if they did that, anyone who knows the world and the lore will be able to manipulate it easily in the questions they answer, to get into the house they want to.
So why add those extra steps in? It would just be an extra and altogether unnecessary mechanic.
Geoffrey Tim
October 2, 2018 at 09:00
but it would be lovely fanservice that would make fans lose their collective shit.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 09:03
Aye, it would, I do not dispute that for a moment.
But I can also see some kid, hurling a controller at a TV because the hat sorted him into Hufflepuff instead of Slytherin.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 14:14
“Quick build” = choose house, want etc.
“Full immersion” = go through the sorting and selection stuff.
All bases covered 🙂
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 09:03
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/41ee809ce44276f6ec909cd49dd23ee097a220f8c7ee2bd08091db586dfe26ad.jpg
An RPG without immersion turns into Andromeda…
Dresden
October 2, 2018 at 09:09
The Pottermore site has an aptitude test to determine what house you belong in, so I agree some sort of hidden mechanic to scope out your personality would be amazing to determine your house!
Perhaps something in the lines of when they place the hat on your head, the hat and you have one of those mini conversations in your mind to determine the house you belong in- after all, the house you get sorted into is as much a choice as it is determined from your personality.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 09:37
Proceeds to Pottermore, gets House Gryffindor.
Got an Irish Wolfhound as my Patronus, which is eerie as the “happy thought” at the start was about my dogs!
Wand is Acacia wood with a dragon heartstring core, 13″ and slightly yielding flexibility. Weird since I was in Hoërskool Akasia.
Ok, that site is creepy 😛
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 13:33
I’m Slytherin. Ha!
Patronus, Goshawk (whatever the hell that is)
Wand: Fir wood with unicorn hair.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 13:38
Unicorn? Is your name Wade Wilson?
Part of me wanted Slytherin as well, but since I am not a Pott-head I do not really know the difference, only that Snape was Slytherin!
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 13:44
What can I say, I’m a horny bastard.
Gryffindor is all about courage and shit like that (far as I can recall).
Slytherin is about ambition (once again, I think!). As Ron said, “There hasn’t been a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn’t from Slytherin.”
Makes sense then. “There’s a darkness, living deep in my soul. It’s still got a purpose to serve.”
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 13:50
Perhaps it is because my one answer was “protect”…janee, guess I will have to make sure my bolter and hammer are ready for the coming of the Original Heretic!
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 13:54
I’ll…I’ll play with my wand.
For the Emperor!
October 2, 2018 at 14:14
Wait what? LoL
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 14:17
Ya know, play with my wand. That magical length of wood that, when you handle it just right, shoots magic out the tip.
Wait, this is a KID’S book?!
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 09:44
Tutorial provides you with options, solutions to a challenge, selected options determine your house.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 12:51
Now THAT would work very well.
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 13:21
Its not really any different to what you said, anyone who knows the lore will be able to manipulate it.
Its superficial, but thats fine, your character should be who you want it to be.
Most of my characters would run away screaming from the first baddie if they used my actual personality to build characters.
Original Heretic
October 2, 2018 at 13:22
But it’s the method you mentioned, how it’s choices of doing things that determine your house, as opposed to answering a set of questions.
Matthew Holliday
October 2, 2018 at 13:31
Yeah, superficial, but thought it would be a nice way to integrate idea of choice.
Raidz19
October 2, 2018 at 08:54
Oeeeee! I will never get enough of anything Hary Potter..bring it on!
GooseZA
October 2, 2018 at 09:26
That looks great
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
October 2, 2018 at 10:23
Recently i’ve been unable to view videos on CH. It’s just a blank space in the article. I’ve had to use YouTube
Geoffrey Tim
October 2, 2018 at 11:27
Got anything in your browser that’s blocking scripts?
Gr8_Balls_o_Fire
October 2, 2018 at 16:32
Nothing that I didn’t have before when the videos worked, which was like last week?
NomenNescio
October 2, 2018 at 13:02
Wow… i’ve given up hope that a Harry Potter/Wizarding World AAA RPG will actually become reality..I hope it releases soon. Need something to tie me over until CP2077 comes out.
Geoffrey Tim
October 2, 2018 at 13:51
i wouldnt expect to see this out anytime soon