Releasing in just a few months' time now, Hogwarts Legacy looks as though it may finally give Harry Potter fans that Hogwarts student experience they've been longing for for years. As Avalanche Software gears up for release, it's started to reveal more details about Hogwarts Legacy's gameplay, and a recent trailer has just showcased the game's Room of Requirement, an area that long-time fans of the Wizarding World are sure to know about.
First mentioned in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and then first seen in Order of the Phoenix, the Room of Requirement is said to present itself to students at Hogwarts only when they truly need it. It seems as though Hogwarts Legacy's player-character is one of the lucky few that's deemed worthy of entry, as the Room of Requirement plays a pretty major role in the game, acting as a base of operations for the player.
How Hogwarts Legacy's Room of Requirement Works
The Room of Requirement is essentially the player's central, safe hub. At the beginning of the game, the Room of Requirement will start off relatively small, with just one large room being open to the player. As the game progresses, the Room of Requirement will expand, opening up more side rooms for the player to use. Customization will play a huge part in Hogwarts Legacy's Room of Requirement, with mechanics similar to games like The Sims or Animal Crossing.
In the recent Hogwarts Legacy gameplay trailer, some of the Room of Requirement's customization features were explored in some detail. Players will be able to conjure a slew of cosmetic items, ranging from everyday furniture like chairs and tables to some more Harry Potter-esque items like ornamental cat plates and gigantic statues of Hippogriffs. Once a player has conjured up an item, they can then customize its appearance, being able to change its color and even its size.
The Room of Requirement also has plenty of practical gameplay uses as well. One of the biggest highlights of the recent gameplay trailer was Hogwarts Legacy's gear system, and how it intertwines with the Room of Requirement. At the start of the game, the player will apparently unlock a piece of furniture that lets them identify pieces of gear, which reveals any special traits it has. From there, a player can head over to the loom in the Room of Requirement to upgrade gear and attach special traits to it, which apply bonuses like reduced damage from a specific enemy type. To upgrade gear, players will need to use materials gathered from beasts, which is where the Room of Requirement's Vivarium comes into play.
At the back of the Room of Requirement, players will find a door that transports them into a Vivarium. Acting similarly to Newt's suitcase in Fantastic Beasts, this Vivarium is a sprawling space that houses some of Hogwarts Legacy's magical beasts. Players will be able to rescue beasts in the overworld from poachers and transport them back to their Vivarium. From here, players can interact with their beasts, petting them and feeding them. This will increase a happiness meter that, when full, rewards players with some unique crafting materials. This Vivarium area can also be customized fully, both with cosmetic items like statues, cottages, wells, and foliage, and practical items like a toy box and automatic beast feeder, which will be gradually unlocked throughout the game.
Hogwarts Legacy releases on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 10, 2023, followed by a PS4 and Xbox One release on April 4, 2023, and a Switch launch on July 25, 2023.