Ahead of launch, it’s clear to see that Avalanche Studios’ Hogwarts Legacy could very-well be the “Harry Potter game” fans of the series have been waiting for. However, this action-RPG is much more about the Wizarding World around the bespectacled wizard than the One Who Lived himself. For a long time now, fans have known that Hogwarts Legacy is set in the 1800s; this is a time period that is several generations prior to what we see in JK Rowling’s book series. But, one theory online (supported by the leaked Hogwarts Legacy trophy list) is suggesting that we might see Harry Potter in Hogwarts Legacy after all – just not the one you think.
Shared aptly by Ravenclaw ‘Arktix‘ on the Hogwarts Legacy subreddit, the theory is all to do with a Hogwarts Legacy trophy pertaining to a Deathly Hallow. If you’re a Potterhead, you’ll know very well that these are some of the most powerful magical artifacts in the Harry Potter universe – and they don’t just pop up out of nowhere.
As you will be able to see for yourself below, looking at the detailed history of the Wizarding World franchise tells us that it’s quite unlikely that the Deathly Hallow featuring in Hogwarts Legacy is the Elder Wand.
The Elder Wand, as pointed out by Arktix, was in the possession of famous wandmaker Mykew Gregorovitch in 1890 – which is the year we’re under the impression Hogwarts Legacy is taking place in. This Deathly Hallow was stolen by Gellert Grindlewald around nine years later – so, whatever happens, Gregorovitch would cannonically need to have the Elder Wand by then.
We won’t go into too much detail about the timeline and the plausibilty of the player-character getting their hands on the Edler Wand – which can only be weilded when won in a duel – but we agree with the theory that it seems unlikely this would be in Hogwarts Legacy. Gregorovitch would have to win the Elder Wand back in a duel from the player-character, if they did manage to get their hands on it.
Arktix, as you can see above, then explains why the Resurrection Stone’s appearance in Hogwarts Legacy wouldn’t make much sense either. This Deathly Hallow has cannonically been in the posession of the Gaunt family for several generations by the time Harry Potter attends Hogwarts; so, it’s likely it would be in their posession in 1890. It’s also something of a secret until it’s appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. So, while it’s not impossible to see this pop up in some capacity during Hogwarts Legacy, we do think this could end up being quite messy when it comes to keeping the narrative within the confines of what is already canon.
So, that leaves the Invisibilty Cloak and the Potter family. Going a few generations back, Arktix believes that Henry “Harry” Potter could very-well be in Hogwarts Legacy and in possession of this Deathly Hallow. We know this could confuse casual fans, but it’s hard to deny that this would be quite a fun way to tie the protagonist of the series to the game.
Interestingly, however, Arktix goes one step further and suggests that this particular Harry Potter could actually be the infamous Ravenclaw companion we still know almost nothing about. Now, we’re not so sure about that, but we still think it’s plausible that we’ll see at least one ancestor of Harry Potter in Hogwarts Legacy – there’s already been confirmation that the Weasley family will feature in some capacity during the narrative, after all.
But, at the moment, this is all speculation and it’s important to keep this in mind. The Hogwarts Legacy release date is fast-approaching and you’ll find the list of Hogwarts Legacy characters is full of familiar faces and new ones. If you like the Wizarding World series, this is going to be the perfect game for you.
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.