Hogwarts Legacy Reportedly Pushed Back To 2023
It sounds like Avalanche Software's Hogwarts Legacy has been stupefied, as the long-awaited open-world Harry Potter game is reportedly in a whole wizarding world of trouble. Just after we were teased with an imminent release window.
Rumours of an open-world Harry Potter game first surfaced in 2018, and after Avalanche and Warner Bros. made Hogwarts Legacy official, it was supposed to land last year. Sadly, things have gone quiet as someone seemingly put a Mimblewimble (tongue-tying curse) on those in the know.
Has Hogwarts Legacy Been Delayed To 2023?
Speaking to the Sacred Symbols+ podcast (via VGC), insider Colin Moriarty claimed Hogwarts Legacy is way behind schedule and will now release in 2023. Although Moriarty couldn't expand much, he explained, "I’m hearing behind the scenes that the game is not coming out this year, and that it’s in some sort of trouble."
Worryingly, there wasn't even a concrete release date for 2023, meaning it could even launch later than this. It was only last year that Warner Bros. General Manager Rachel Wakely hyped "two major releases in 2022," with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore and Hogwarts Legacy making it a bumper year for the IP. Now, that might not be the case.
Back then, Wakely acknowledged a lack of progress on the game, but told Toy World, "From what we’ve seen, the launch will be well worth the wait and deliver a unique way for fans to interact with the franchise." So, where does this famed school of Witchcraft and Wizardry?
Will Hogwarts Legacy Be Pulled?
Although it might seem wild to imagine a world where Hogwarts Legacy will be given the chop, it's not entirely outside the realms of possibility. In 2021, the studio said that the original delay was to create "the best possible experience for all of the Wizarding World and gaming fans is paramount to us so we are giving the game the time it needs."
It's no secret that Hogwarts Legacy has been dragged into a Wizarding War of its own, as Warner Bros. has distanced itself from franchise creator J.K. Rowling. The author has continued to make controversial comments about the transgender community, and although Hogwarts Legacy will include transgender character options, it isn't enough for some.
Much like the recent Harry Potter reunion put Rowling at arm's length, Hogwarts Legacy has reiterated she wasn't involved. Then again, there are complaints that no matter what, she'll still make a pretty penny from the title's sales. If all of that wasn't enough, the global pandemic has thrown the gaming industry into chaos.
Some were already concerned that Hogwarts Legacy has been missing from the likes of E3, PlayStation showcases, and even hopes it would appear at the Game Awards. None of the above pointed toward a 2022 release, but thanks to the latest update, we're worried we might never be able to raise our wands for the ambitious adventure.