The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Hogwarts Legacy have been put off yet again. In an effort to provide the “best possible experience on all platforms,” studio Avalanche Software confirmed in a tweet that versions of the open-world Harry Potter RPG for consoles of the previous generation will now be available on May 5. All versions were initially scheduled to launch on February 10, but these ports were postponed to April 4 last year and have since been pushed back once more. For the Nintendo Switch version, which is likely still on schedule to be released on July 25, there is currently no word on any further delays.
Although Avalanche Software hasn’t said specifically what the extra month of development time will be used for, we can assume that it will be used to optimize for the PS4 and Xbox One’s out-of-date specs. Microstutters and lighting issues that occasionally cause Hogwarts Legacy on PC to be too dark or bright have been reported on multiple occasions since the game’s launch. It is entirely possible that these issues with performance have also affected the testing experience on consoles of the previous generation.
Given that this appears to be an easy solution, it’s encouraging that the developers are still working on these versions of Hogwarts Legacy. Gotham Knights is another game published by WB Games; the team decided to cancel all previous-generation versions in the middle of development.
In the two weeks since its release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X, publisher WB Games confirmed that Hogwarts Legacy had sold 12 million copies, making it the company’s biggest game launch. Hogwarts Legacy has also dominated the Twitch charts, reaching a peak of 1.28 million concurrent players and becoming the streaming platform’s most popular single-player title. According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the Wizarding World website, the official destination for all Potterheads, saw 300 percent more traffic than usual in the early days of February. Its impact has been nothing short of surreal. Having said that, the game is still working on the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions, so the developer has no stated plans to capitalize on the hype by releasing any DLC other than patches.
Hogwarts Legacy puts you in the shoes of a fifth-year witch or wizard with the rare ability to see and tap into ancient magic, set in the 1800s, long before the Chosen One was born. While on the run from a threatening troll, you should shuffle between liabilities — going to classes at the notorious sorcery loaded palace, investigating the thick Prohibited Timberland, figuring out how to make elixirs, and battling Dim wizards and unfriendly animals that cross your way. According to rumor, Quidditch has been suspended for the year. However, you can still travel the world on broomsticks.
The PS4 and Xbox One versions of Hogwarts Legacy are now scheduled to arrive on May 5. The Switch version is currently scheduled to be released on July 25.