2023 is set to be a monumental year for gaming considering how many of the anticipated 2022 titles have been delayed. 2023 will be packed with heavyweight installments from beloved franchises and IPs, and some surprises are sure to appear throughout as well. One of the most anticipated games for 2023 will be Avalanche’s Hogwarts Legacy, which immerses players as magical students attending the iconic and fantastical school.
Following its delays, Hogwarts Legacy has finally nailed down a release date and recently gone gold on current-gen platforms. This means that fans can now expect Hogwarts Legacy to launch in 2023, no matter how staggered its releases may be. Other details are less concrete, but based on what fans already know and what the pattern of its marketing trend look like, a few other loose expectations can be made regarding Hogwarts Legacy.
Hogwarts Legacy Will Likely Have More Gameplay Showcases in 2023
Future gameplay showcases for Hogwarts Legacy can be expected if previous showcases represent a marketing trend that has been established for the game. There is no confirmation that showcases will continue, but it is possible that new showcases could appear all the way up to Hogwarts Legacy’s release, which would give Avalanche roughly a month and a half for however many other demonstrations it would like to share. If for no other reason, future showcases could continue to amplify excitement until its release.
Of course, showcases will only be necessary if there are any outstanding fundamentals or content that Avalanche deems paramount for fans to know before release. Thus far, each showcase has been incredibly informative. Moreover, Hogwarts Legacy’s second gameplay showcase features an ending tease. This does not necessarily confirm that another showcase will air to clarify what it alludes to, but that would be a great enough encouragement to stay tuned for one if it was.
Hogwarts Legacy Releases on Consoles Throughout 2023
Hogwarts Legacy’s official release date is February 10, 2023 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and that means fans can expect it to launch with all of its related base game content and special edition content. However, it should also be noted that the game is available with 72-hour early access if players purchase either the Deluxe or Collector’s editions of Hogwarts Legacy, and these editions also come with the Dark Arts bundle that the standard edition lacks.
This effectively means that many fans could be playing Hogwarts Legacy on February 7 instead, giving them a head start on their enrollment and exploration as a student at Hogwarts. However, fans will still need to wait until April 4 for Hogwarts Legacy to release on last-gen PS4 and Xbox One consoles. Nintendo Switch fans wait the longest, though, with the game’s release scheduled for July 25. Hogwarts Legacy will then be launching intermittently throughout 2023 as long as no other delays impact those dates.
Hogwarts Legacy Releases Early Enough in 2023 That DLC Could Arrive Later in the Year
To be clear, there has been no announcement or confirmation of any post-launch DLC for Hogwarts Legacy. But if Avalanche is indeed planning any currently unannounced DLC for the game, it would not be out of the realm of possibility to anticipate it for later in the year. The game’s launch being so early in the year gives Avalanche quite a bit of time to develop a narrative expansion or significant update for Hogwarts Legacy, and even a holiday patch with seasonal goodies could land within 2023.
Rather, because Avalanche may be busy with the game’s release on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, there may not be time available to launch any DLC within the year. Otherwise, if a Hogwarts Legacy sequel is planned or in development later in 2023, it would be incredibly unlikely for it to be announced within the year whether the game is successful or not.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Story Could Be the Darkest Harry Potter Narrative
Based on what Hogwarts Legacy’s atmospheric trailers suggest about its narrative, fans can expect certain quests and tones in the game to be remarkably dark. Hogwarts Legacy features multiple horror motifs, at least in how some of its trailers have portrayed it, and there appears to be a large emphasis on indulging in a sinister path as a dark witch or wizard.
This includes being able to cast Unforgivable Curses, but narratively there seems to be much more at stake as well. If players are tasked with casting Unforgivable Curses on their fellow students, that would certainly eschew Hogwarts Legacy from the wholesome nostalgia of the earlier Harry Potter installments. Of course, this is apparently only optional, and fans can likely choose a wholesome path if they wish, but the game will be inherently darker as a result of this unique opportunity.
Why Hogwarts Legacy’s Release Will Be Steeped in Controversy
J.K. Rowling’s unapologetically insensitive and hateful comments mar what Hogwarts Legacy could have been. Because she is the overarching IP author with an inseparable and intrinsic link to Harry Potter, there will now always be controversy following anything that is released from the franchise.
Therefore, for a multitude of reasons, it can be expected that this controversy will impact whether some fans wish to support Hogwarts Legacy or not, regardless of the amount of input Rowling has on the game’s development. It is true that Rowling’s comments toward the Harry Potter community and transgender people have been absolutely inexcusable and horrendous, but fans may still wish to support Hogwarts Legacy in support of Avalanche’s independent beliefs and receive flak for doing so. It may not be expected that everyone’s reasons for what they choose are respected, and it will be interesting to see how much of an effect this has on Hogwarts Legacy in 2023.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, with PS4 and Xbox One versions coming April 4 and the Switch version launching on July 25.