While it has its detractors, there's no denying the longevity of Jam City's Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. The interactive story game recently celebrated its 2 Year Anniversary, and new features are still being added on a regular basis. Now Jam City has decided to add what is essentially a Battle Pass to the game, which, like most other Battle Passes, includes both a free and premium version.
Jam City calls Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery's Battle Pass "Magical Milestones." By earning XP, players can fill up their Battle Pass and get bonus rewards, like gems and energy. The premium version of Magical Milestones costs $9.99, and it unlocks even more rewards that players can unlock. There will be "new themes every month," so it seems as though Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery players may be looking at spending a minimum of $9.99 per month if they want to get the most out of every Battle Pass. However, exact pricing information for future seasons have not been announced at the time of this writing.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery's microtransactions have been heavily criticized in the past, with many pointing to them as one of the main reasons why the game has been panned by professional critics. Free-to-play mobile games obviously need some way to monetize, but there are many who feel as though Hogwarts Mystery's microtransactions are predatory in nature, with the game seemingly built around boring players into purchasing more energy.
Considering how negatively fans have responded to Hogwarts Mystery's microtransactions, it's no surprise that the Magical Milestones have been met with a mixed reception so far. On the bright side, Magical Milestones should theoretically give players less of a reason to purchase the other microtransactions, as players will be getting the in-game currency as a reward for completing it.
In turn, this will help Hogwarts Mystery players progress through the story at a faster rate. The Hogwarts Mystery story is full of shocking twists and turns, and while it has been criticized for having plot holes, the narrative is otherwise the main reason why fans stay engaged with the game.
Looking ahead, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery fans can expect Jam City to continue releasing new content for the game. And in the meantime, there is a new Harry Potter mobile game to look forward to as well in the form of Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, in development at Zynga.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is available now for iOS and Android mobile devices.