Hogwarts Legacy's release date is not for another couple of weeks, but the game is already available to pre-load for those on Xbox Series X. In an age when most game purchases are digital and file sizes are ballooning out of control, pre-loading is an extremely helpful tool that ensures gamers are able to play pre-ordered games like Hogwarts Legacy right at launch. However, it's a rare thing that games let players pre-load so far in advance.
It's unclear why Hogwarts Legacy pre-loading has started so far in advance. There also hasn't been any reason given as to why the Xbox Series X version seems to be the only one that fans can pre-load right now, but hopefully those playing on PC and PS5 don't have to wait too much longer to start their download. While unconfirmed, it's possible Hogwarts Legacy pre-loading has started so early is because of the game's early access option. Anyone that pre-orders the Digital Deluxe Edition can get 72 hours early access to the game, allowing them to play on February 7 instead of February 10. So maybe the pre-loading has started early to prepare for the wave of players who will be jumping into the game ahead of launch, but that's just speculation at this time.
In any case, Hogwarts Legacy fans will be happy to have the chance to pre-load the game, as its file size is reportedly around 77 GB. While certainly not the largest file size seen in recent years, it's still rather sizable and will take gamers with slower Internet quite some time to download. With Hogwarts Legacy being a large open world game that includes Hogwarts castle, the surrounding grounds, Hogsmeade, and high-level graphics, it's not surprising that the game's file size is so big, however.
While unconfirmed, leaks have claimed that beating Hogwarts Legacy takes about 35 hours, which is a decent runtime for a game in its genre and doesn't take into account all the side content the game has on offer. If the leaks are accurate, it seems as though Hogwarts Legacy players are looking at about 70 hours or so for 100% completion.
In the meantime, it will be interesting to see how all this content is trimmed down for the Nintendo Switch version. A Hogwarts Legacy Switch port is coming in July, but the file size will need lowered if the game is going to fit a Switch cartridge. It's possible that the lowered graphics of the Switch release will be more than enough to ensure that the game fits on a Switch cartridge, but more information on that front will likely come closer to that version's release date.
Hogwarts Legacy launches February 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X with PS4 and Xbox One Versions coming April 4, and a Switch port coming July 25.
