Hogwarts Legacy Devs Know How Much Fans Want To Murder

The developers of Hogwarts Legacy recently demonstrated fanbase awareness by showcasing heavily anticipated Unforgiveable Curses in a new trailer. Fan speculation surrounding what will be possible in the upcoming action RPG has intensified since the Hogwarts Legacy PlayStation State of Play showcase, which offered a detailed look into the game. However, further information has been released since the State of Play, offering a more specific look at mechanics many may be curious about.

One of the major challenges facing the developers in the upcoming Harry Potter-based title is finding the proper balance between recognizable aspects of the franchise and new story and gameplay elements. Set in the 19th-century, Hogwarts Legacy does not include most of the popular characters from previous Harry Potter stories, allowing a new cast to take the stage. Because of this, the setting of Hogwarts castle, and the magic players use, are currently some of the most identifiable aspects of the new game.

In a recent post on Twitter, Warner Bros. Games officially shared a short montage demonstrating various spells in action throughout the game, including the trademark green light of the Unforgiveable Curse, Avada Kedavra. The post acknowledges the fan desire for Unforgiveable Curses in Hogwarts Legacy, stating, "We get it, you all really want to cast an unforgivable curse". Currently, the "killing curse" is the only confirmed Unforgiveable Curse planned for Hogwarts Legacy, but it is possible additional curses could be announced at a later date.

While Avada Kedavra is known as a lethal spell in the Harry Potter books and films, there is a possibility the curse's mechanics in Hogwarts Legacy could work differently after seeing Hogwarts Legacy footage that shows magic mechanics. To help limit the spell's power, there is a chance Avada Kedavra will be both difficult to learn and minimally used. It may also be locked as end-game content, with players only able to learn it at the very end of the main narrative. There might also be consequences for using the spell, with Hogwarts Legacy players potentially held liable for murder.

Because Harry Potter and the Wizarding World are currently navigating controversy surrounding J.K. Rowling, transparency from the Hogwarts Legacy development team is important. Because of this, players have had a unique look into the game's development process, as well as the hurdles the game has faced while being built. For example, players were able to see glitches like an amusing Hogwarts Legacy bug involving a flying centaur. By including players in the development process of the upcoming Harry Potter game, and ensuring desired content like Unforgivable Curses are included, Hogwarts Legacy may be able to overcome controversy and offer fans the open-world wizarding game many have wanted for years.

Next: Hogwarts Legacy: Professor Binns Died Earlier Than We Thought

Hogwarts Legacy is coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in late 2022.

Source: Warner Bros. Games/Twitter

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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