Sony held a State of Play event on September 14, giving an update on some highly anticipated games. Hogwarts Legacy, which Harry Potter fans have been eagerly awaiting, has faced delays and is now slated for a 2023 release. During Hogwarts Legacy's appearance at the State of Play event, it was revealed that PlayStation gamers will be getting an exclusive quest revolving around Madame Mason, who owns a strange shop in Hogsmeade.
There is plenty that the exclusive quest could explore, including Hogsmeade's history, which has ties to Goblin Rebellions. The trailer suggests that gamers will likely be dealing with dark magic, which seems like it will be quite a prevalent force in Hogwarts Legacy. Pre-orders for the upcoming game have been made available, and the editions include a Collector's Edition which features a wand that appears to float magically.
Hogwarts Legacy and the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop
During the most recent State of Play event, gamers got another glimpse of Hogwarts Legacy. Like prior trailers, the latest one suggests that the upcoming game will be one filled with dark magic and sinister mysteries. Players were introduced to a new character named Madame Mason, and she owns a shop in Hogsmeade. She is hoping to sell the shop, although the bargain she is offering is suspicious. It is revealed that Madame Mason has had bad luck with her last few tenants, and it is suggested that dark magic is afoot.
To find out more about Madame Mason and her mysterious shop, gamers will have to purchase Hogwarts Legacy on PS4 or PS5, as the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop quest is exclusive to PlayStation. The quest includes an additional dungeon, a shopkeeper's cosmetics set, and the in-game Hogsmeade shop which players will presumably explore. The exclusive quest makes the PlayStation versions of the game quite enticing, especially for gamers curious about dark magic, and it suggests that the definitive Hogwarts Legacy experience may be on PlayStation.
What Could the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop Quest Be About?
It is not yet known why Madame Mason has had such bad luck with her prior tenants, though such situations are not rare in the Wizarding World. Famously, during Harry Potter's years at Hogwarts, he discovers that many believe that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position is cursed, as those who hold the position seldom last longer than a year. The reason for this is left ambiguous, although it could be the result of dark magic, and it has been suggested that Voldemort jinxed the job after Dumbledore denied him the position. Similar kinds of dark magic could be at play in the upcoming quest, and players may see themselves having to overcome strong curses.
The quest could also be used to explore Hogsmeade's history. Hogsmeade was founded by Hengist of Woodcroft around the same time that Hogwarts was established. The village is typically depicted as a picturesque place populated with quirky shops and thatched cottages, although some dark events have taken place there. In 1612, Hogsmeade served as the headquarters for wizards during a Goblin Rebellion, and with another Goblin Rebellion brewing in Hogwarts Legacy, Hogsmeade may find itself coming into play again. Ideally, the quest could also shed some more light on Hogsmeade's origins, its culture, and how it came to enjoy its close relationship with Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Legacy wasn't the only game on show, and gamers got to see plenty more exciting games that are coming up. Most notably, God of War Ragnarok closed the show with a story trailer that showed off some combat as well as what players can expect in the next stage of Kratos and Atreus' adventure. It appears to be the most epic entry yet, and it will see the gods clash.
Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to release on 10 February 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch port is also planned.
