Back in 2018, the first of many rumors surrounding a mysterious open-world Harry Potter RPG came about when footage of an in-development game leaked. It showed some gameplay and character customization pages, along with insider information about what this would consequently mean. Finally, WB Games and Avalanche Software unveiled Hogwarts Legacy as the game in question, but shrouds of mystery still surround the upcoming title.
Since the initial gameplay footage began circulating, multiple sources have "leaked" information about the game that would be titled Hogwarts Legacy, such as a Redditor earlier this year. However, it should be noted that the source of this so-called insider information has varying levels of credibility. The Reddit user u/notexpectedbut (whose account is now suspended) claimed to be a WB marketing employee, and while some information they posted is seemingly true, some "insider knowledge" they claimed to have has turned out to be utterly false since the release of the official Hogwarts Legacy announcement trailer.
The True Rumors of Hogwarts Legacy
Up until the Hogwarts Legacy announcement at the PS5 showcase on September 16th, the game's time period was in the air but that has now been confirmed. Rumors suggested it would take place way before Harry Potter's time, and that's true: the trailer confirms that the game will be set in Hogwarts in the late 1800s. From this rumor, speculation suggested that the game would have a completely different cast of characters from the books or films, and logistically, this must be the case.
While there is a possibility Albus Dumbledore could appear as a student at the school depending on the specific year Hogwarts Legacy is set in (as he was born in the late 1800s), the game will likely feature little to no familiar faces from the Wizarding World. Professors and students will mostly be brand-new to the franchise, though it's likely some ancestors of legacy families like the Blacks will appear.
The most recent trailer also confirms the open-world aspect of the upcoming Harry Potter game. As suggested by many rumors, the game would allow the player to freely roam not only the grounds of Hogwarts but also the surrounding areas, such as Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. The announcement trailer for Hogwarts Legacy shows that flying around these areas will also be possible, though how often broom and Hippogriff flying will be available is still a question mark. Additionally, it looks like new locations unique to the RPG will be introduced, such as dark caverns and possibly structures hidden beneath the school.
The False and Uncertain
While some of u/notexpectedbut's rumored information is still up in the air, a few points can be ticked off the list as untrue. Along with the confirmed late 1800s setting and the lack of appearance from Harry Potter and friends, the title is Hogwarts Legacy, but it's not far off from the rumored title. The Redditor claimed the game would be titled Hogwarts: A Dark Legacy, and it's possible that the developer has simply changed the name in more recent months.
Still, the game looks to be on the darker side of the children's book series from the 90s, which was another claim made by u/notexpectedbut. As the trailer suggests, the Dark Arts and dark wizards will play a major role in the story. But like many other rumors that have surfaced, whether or not the game will have a T or M rating is still up in the air.
Since WB Games and Avalanche have yet to show gameplay footage of Hogwarts Legacy, there are still many rumors that have yet to be confirmed or denied. The Redditor from the original leak back in 2018 claimed there would be eight different wizard classes to choose from, and the more recent Redditor corroborates this claim. It's likely that skill trees and character customization will be fluid as to live up to both fan expectations and the modern era of gaming, but players will have to wait a bit longer to found out if this is true.
While Quidditch matches look to be an activity based on a short clip of the trailer, how far the developers will take competing for House points and the House Cup is still a question. And how spells and combat will work remains a mystery. But hopefully, fans won't have to wait too long to get another look at the upcoming Harry Potter RPG.
Hogwarts Legacy will be coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.