This year is shaping up to be one peppered with big releases. Already, gamers can look forward to headlining titles like Spider-Man 2, Starfield, and Final Fantasy 16. Many gamers also have Hogwarts Legacy on their radar, although news of the staggered release schedule has caused some upset, especially for Switch players. With the Switch version of Hogwarts Legacy pushed to July 2023, the developer narrowly missed an opportunity to at least give Switch players some unique marketing, as there is a special Harry Potter-related date that occurs in July: Harry Potter's birthday.
The road to Hogwarts Legacy's release has not been an easy one, and the game has had to tackle various controversies. This includes gamers questioning the influence of J.K. Rowling on Hogwarts Legacy, and players having their patience put to the test with the delays. Nevertheless, if the game can live up to the promises it has made, it could be one of the best open-world games of the year for fantasy fans.
Hogwarts Legacy's Staggered Release Schedule
Hogwarts Legacy has been the victim of delays that have pushed it from late 2022 into 2023. This is already disappointing, as a Wizarding World game pairs up perfectly with the holiday season. However, if it is the price that has to be paid to ensure that gamers receive a polished product, then a little extra wait is nothing more than a slight inconvenience. Things were, unfortunately, further complicated when the developer announced that all versions of Hogwarts Legacy will not be released simultaneously.
The developer already had the lofty goal of releasing the game on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles on the same day, with a Switch version coming later. However, it has now been confirmed that only the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game will launch in February. Gamers who are on last-gen consoles will have to wait until April to get their copies. Switch players will have to wait even longer, because that version only comes on July 25. This revelation has caused some upset among fans, with some canceling their pre-orders of Hogwarts Legacy.
This is understandable, as it means that last-gen players will have to avoid spoilers for a long time if they wish to play the game without having the entire plot revealed to them already. However, it is also worth considering the other side of the coin. Games like Cyberpunk 2077, which performed exceptionally poorly on last-gen hardware, illustrate how badly things can go when ambitious games aren't optimized. Hence, there is also reason to be grateful that Avalanche Software is refusing to release a product they're not satisfied with.
The Hogwarts Legacy Switch Version Narrowly Misses Harry Potter's Birthday
For fans of the Harry Potter novels, there are a few dates that are important in the literary series. For example, September 1 is the first day of the Hogwarts school year. July 31 is also important because it is Harry Potter's birthday. It would have been a great way for the Switch version of the game to get some special marketing if it had been released on Harry's birthday, just six days after its current scheduled release date. Although it wouldn't take away the sting of the long delay, it would make Switch players at least have the satisfaction of knowing their version is being released on a special day in the Wizarding World - the same day the Boy Who Lived was born.
As the current gaming generation gets into high gear, the gaming industry sits in an ambiguous zone where it wants to embrace the new consoles without leaving behind gamers who may still be stuck on last-gen consoles. Furthermore, although the issue has improved, the global microchip shortage has made it difficult for many gamers to enjoy the new consoles. The Switch complicates the situation further, existing across two generations and flourishing despite its significantly weaker hardware. Although it is not an ideal situation, Hogwarts Legacy may not be the last title to adopt a staggered release if developers still want to support last-gen systems while ensuring their games are optimized for each platform.
Not All Versions of Hogwarts Legacy Are Equal
In addition to the release dates that favor gamers on PC and current-gen consoles, there is also the matter of exclusive content to consider. Gamers who are on PlayStation will be treated to exclusive content in the form of a quest called the Haunted Hogsmeade Shop. Though not much is known about the quest, it has been revealed that it involves a woman named Cassandra Mason who is eager to sell her shop, though it appears some sinister secret lies beneath it.
This, combined with the game's creative use of the DualSense controller, could make PlayStation the definitive platform for Hogwarts Legacy. This is somewhat unfair to gamers on other platforms, and Nintendo Switch players get the shortest end of the stick, as they are deprived of exclusive content and enjoy the game last. Although it would take a lot for Avalanche Software to make it appear as though the versions are equal, there are a few things it could do to make it up to Switch fans who may be upset about the long wait they will have to endure. If nothing else, something special for Harry Potter's birthday could be warranted.
Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to release on February 10, 2023, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a PS4 and Xbox One release on April 4 and a Switch release on July 25.
