The release of Hogwarts Legacy has been a truly triumphant occasion for Warner Bros Games, and the results speak for themselves – 12 million copies and an impressive $850 million in revenues over the course of the first two weeks. Like many would guess, the gameplay has been mainly focused around fighting and defeating an overwhelming number of Dark Wizards, a feat which players have accomplished an astounding one billion times. It’s interesting to note how impactful the game has been – hundreds of millions of plants have been grown, 242 million potions brewed, and an incredibly high peak concurrent player count of 237,000 on Steam alone.
Speaking of Steam, the feedback towards Hogwarts Legacy has remained consistently positive throughout its time on the platform. It currently holds the sixth spot in the Top 100, despite competition from the newest title Sons of the Forest. Additionally, President of Warner Bros Games, David Haddad, has praised the game saying that “the development team at Avalanche delivered an amazing and high quality Wizarding World experience that truly fulfills the fan fantasy of life at Hogwarts- and our publishing teams have executed a globally impactful launch campaign.”
That being said, the success of Hogwarts Legacy has also been somewhat overshadowed by the ongoing controversy between JK Rowling and the trans rights activists. Following the author’s essay about trans issues in 2020, which was widely refuted by experts and called “inaccurate and cruel” by LGBT media watchdog GLAAD, she has continued to campaign against the legal and social acceptance of trans people. This has led some to choose to boycot all Harry Potter media, including the game, which is understandable.
Overall, it’s clear that this past two weeks has seen great success for Hogwarts Legacy and Warner Bros Games. The numbers certainly speak for themselves, and many can now imagine themselves living out their magical fantasies within the Wizarding World. What do you think of the game’s launch and continued success? Are you one of the lucky few who have experienced the game, and if so, what are your thoughts on it? Let us know in the comments!
