The enchanting world of “Hogwarts Legacy” has cast its spell on gamers worldwide, with a whopping 22 million copies sold as of the end of 2023. This includes an impressive 2 million copies sold during the December holiday season, according to Warner Bros. Games. But it’s not just the sales numbers that have the team at Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment beaming with pride; it’s the level of fan adoration the game has received.
David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, explains, “It brought Harry Potter to life in a new way for gamers where they could be themselves in this world, in this story. And that’s what the team at Avalanche set out to do when they were developing the game, and I think that’s really why it resonated so well and remains the best-selling game of the year in the entire industry worldwide.” It’s a position usually dominated by sequel games from established franchises, making “Hogwarts Legacy’s” achievement even more remarkable.
From its launch on February 10 to December 31, “Hogwarts Legacy” has captivated players around the world, accumulating an astonishing 707 million hours of gameplay. Many fans have returned to Hogwarts time and time again, immersing themselves in different storylines by selecting different Hogwarts houses. The in-game achievements are equally impressive, with 819 million potions brewed, 1.3 billion magical plants harvested, 593 million magical beasts rescued, and a staggering 4.9 billion dark wizards defeated within the virtual halls of the wizarding school.
But the wizarding world of Harry Potter doesn’t stop there. Warner Bros. Games is already working on new additions to the Potterverse’s video game realm. This includes a Quidditch game, previously omitted from “Hogwarts Legacy,” much to the disappointment of fans. The Quidditch game is currently in the beta-testing phase, with more surprises on the horizon. David Haddad teases, “We don’t have any particular announcements on exactly how and when [the Quidditch game] is going to come to the market, but we are working to get it designed in a way just to delight fans.”
While the success of “Hogwarts Legacy” is a source of pride for Warner Bros. Games, they are also focused on leveraging their other franchises and IPs for global gaming domination. The studio aims to prioritize Warner Bros.’s properties, and their upcoming projects reflect this ambition. “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League” and the free-to-play brawler game “MultiVersus” are just a taste of what’s to come. Additionally, a single-player open-world action Wonder Woman game is in development, along with games that will add to the planned relaunch of the DC Universe by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Warner Bros. Games recognizes the importance of their franchises and the role games play in keeping them relevant and exciting. “There’s a unique and important role games have in keeping our franchises relevant, resonant, and exciting because there’s plenty of fans and plenty of people consuming content where games are their starting point, it’s their preferred form of content,” explains Haddad.
Looking ahead, Warner Bros. Discovery aims to transform their biggest franchises by incorporating more always-on gameplay, multi-platform accessibility, and free-to-play extensions. The goal is to have more players engaged across different platforms for longer periods of time. This includes launching new content, ensuring live games receive updates, and keeping mobile game services vibrant. It’s an exciting journey that promises to keep fans deeply immersed in beloved worlds like Harry Potter.
Sources: Variety