Following a recent gameplay showcase, we now know Hogwarts Legacy will let you master dark magic and unforgivable curses, such as Avada Kedavra and Crucio. Using them will be devastating for other students, but it might just impact your story progress in Hogwarts Legacy.
On the Hogwarts Legacy subreddit following the showcase, user ‘FaizerLazer’ expresses the game “looks too easy; which is a shame because it has a lot of spell variety.” Despite concerns from fellow Potter fans, WB Games Avalanche community manager Chandler Wood is putting those worries to bed.
Wood explains that the game’s “combat was on normal difficulty” and is demonstrated by a dev who has been playing the game daily “for a very long time.” Interestingly, the unforgivable curses aren’t just for punishing your foes. The powerful spells will “have some crowd control mechanics” woven into them.
Avada Kedavra and Crucio will inflict “fear” and “stun” buffs, while Imperio brings enemy AI onto your side. However, don’t expect to gain access to them straight away.
The Dark Arts Battle Arena lets players get a taste of these three spells, but players will be given the option to accept curses throughout the story. “Becoming that powerful should feel earned and come with narrative weight,” Wood clarifies. That sounds to us like choosing to wield dark magic will cause some kind of alteration to your character’s story.
Developer WB Games Avalanche could implement a Red Dead Redemption-style morality system – tracking whether you’re a good or evil wizard. Sebastien, who debuted in the Dark Legacy trailer, says “the spell that can save your life shouldn’t be unforgivable,” alongside a threat that players need to be “prepared” for, using dark magic won’t be an easy decision.
As a Potterhead, you’re probably wondering if Hogwarts Legacy is on Game Pass or what Hogwarts Legacy full map looks like. We’ll have to wait till the Hogwarts Legacy release date for more.
Hogwarts Legacy has drawn considerable criticism during its development, largely due to the fact that the creator of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling, has made a number of transphobic remarks on social media in recent years.
While Avalanche has confirmed that J.K. Rowling is not “directly involved” in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, it is working with “her team” and Portkey Games, a Warner Bros. label dedicated to launching new experiences inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. It is currently unclear whether she will earn any royalties from the game’s sale, but it is likely given it is based on her original body of work.
If you would like to learn more about transgender rights or lend your support, we’d encourage you to check out the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US and Mermaids in the UK.