Microsoft started giving away free copies of the first Harry Potter movie to some Xbox console-owning fans of the Wizarding World. The unexpected freebie arrives mere weeks ahead of the Xbox One release of Hogwarts Legacy, the hit Harry Potter RPG that appears to be inherently connected to this newly emerged promo.Hogwarts Legacy launched for Microsoft's current-generation consoles on February 10, but some Xbox console owners are still waiting for an opportunity to play the game. That's because the Xbox One version of Hogwarts Legacy was delayed yet again in March, with its early April release being pushed back by another month.Microsoft has now started giving away free copies of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to some Xbox console owners who bought Hogwarts Legacy. While the freebie might be meant to alleviate the wait for the Xbox One version of the game, Xbox Series X/S gamers are also eligible for the promo, regardless of whether they pre-ordered the game or bought it post-launch. The current crop of social media reports testifying to this development comes from Xbox users in the United States and United Kingdom. It's presently unclear whether the promo is currently live in any other country.
Some Xbox console owners who qualified for the freebie by buying or pre-ordering Hogwarts Legacy report receiving an email containing a digital code for the first Harry Potter movie. Screenshots of the said email shared on social media reveal that the code itself is redeemable in the Microsoft Films and TV app. Formerly known as Xbox Video, said streaming service isn't tied to Xbox consoles, but can also be accessed via a dedicated Windows app, or through any modern web browser.
Warner Bros. already offered a plethora of Hogwarts Legacy pre-order bonuses, but most of those goodies were tied to the Digital Deluxe and Collector's Editions of the hit game. Xbox One and Series X/S owners who placed an advanced order on the Standard Edition were only rewarded with an Onyx Hippogriff mount. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone should hence help sweeten the deal and make Xbox gamers feel they got their money's worth, even if this newly emerged promo does extend to all Hogwarts Legacy purchases in participating countries and not just pre-orders.
In the meantime, Avalanche Software is hard at work polishing the last-gen version of the game for the Xbox One and PS4. Those ports are scheduled to release on May 5 and will be followed by the Switch version of Hogwarts Legacy that's slated to launch on July 25. And while a significant portion of the fandom is currently hoping that the developer will subsequently focus on post-launch content, Avalanche Software says there are currently no plans for Hogwarts Legacy DLC.