Contrary to how it is presented in the Wizarding World books and movies, the outcome of the Sorting Hat process in Hogwarts Legacy will be left up to the player, as the game won't sort witches and wizards into Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. This bit of information has been revealed following the massively enlightening PlayStation State of Play presentation for the upcoming game, which unveiled several other details about Hogwarts Legacy, including its massive map, combat mechanics, and general narrative premise.

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attendees must undergo a sorting process to determine which house they are put in - a placement that will ultimately have a major impact on their schooling experience. The four houses are Gryffindor, which prizes qualities like bravery and chivalry; Slytherin, which prioritizes things like cunning and intelligence; Ravenclaw, focused on academic excellence and scholarly achievement; and Hufflepuff, a house of kind and compassionate hearts. In the films and books, a magical Sorting Hat is placed upon the heads of first-year students, reading their personalities and placing them into the appropriate house. These houses are made up of iconic Harry Potter characters, some of whom will be reappearing in Hogwarts Legacy. Although the choice is mostly up to the Hat, the films and books do note that the outcome can be swung in favor of the student if they have a burning desire for a particular house.

Related: Everything We Learned In Hogwarts Legacy's Gameplay Preview

In Hogwarts Legacy, however, players will have much more agency, and won't be sorted into their houses automatically, instead being given a choice. An FAQ page on the Hogwarts Legacy website touches on how houses will be implemented in the game, simply stating that "Players can choose their Hogwarts house at the start of Hogwarts Legacy." While sparse on details, this does seem to confirm that players will have an unrestricted choice of house, rather than the Sorting Hat functioning as it does in the original stories and movies.

Hogwarts Legacy Herbology Class

It remains to be seen just what kind of impact house choice will have on the greater experience of Hogwarts Legacy. It's been confirmed that Hogwarts Legacy will feature Unforgivable Curses, so perhaps joining Slytherin will open up the door to a darker path while joining a house like Gryffindor will provide more opportunities for goodness and heroism. Based on available info, it looks like the dormitory the player inhabits will depend on the house they choose. House-dependent skills, buffs, or gear would also likely be welcomed by players.

Overall, it is probably a good thing that players can have freedom of choice when it comes to which Hogwarts house they are sorted into. Still, a brief sorting quiz like the many found online might be a fun inclusion, and Hogwarts Legacy could have the best of both worlds by featuring a quiz and then recommending a particular house to the player. It will be interesting to see just how these houses are implemented in the game as a whole.

Next: How Hogwarts Legacy Changes Gryffindor's Bedrooms From Harry Potter

Hogwarts Legacy will release on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC during Holiday 2022.

Source: Hogwarts Legacy

Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

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