After the runaway success of Hogwarts Legacy, publisher Warner Bros. Games has wasted little time in announcing another game from the Harry Potter universe.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has now officially been announced. Warner Bros. Games says that it will be “a fast-paced, competitive multiplayer game” based around “the world’s most iconic magical sport” — which admittedly isn’t a hugely competitive category.
As a dedicated multiplayer experience, it will require an internet connection to play, the company says.
Otherwise, details are pretty slim: we know it’s being developed by Unbroken Studios (which is currently building Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League) and will allow players to customise their avatars. But even its release platforms are a mystery at this point. It will “be available for PC and consoles which have not yet been confirmed,” the company says.
Although it has been in development for “several years”, the studio isn’t ready to announce a release date yet, either. But playtests will be happening soon, and players are encouraged to sign up for the chance to help test the game before release.
Calling all Beaters, Chasers, Keepers, and Seekers! Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions limited playtest signups are live now! Sign up at https://t.co/E9cQekLOzV. #QuidditchChampions pic.twitter.com/AQhKfg4NKD
— Warner Bros. Games (@wbgames) April 17, 2023
As the Quidditch Champions FAQ explains, the game is being published under the Portkey Games label — WB Games’ in-house publisher dedicated to titles inspired by the Harry Potter universe, from the Pokemon Go-like Wizards Unite for mobile to the recent triple-A console release Hogwarts Legacy.
Crucially, these are all “inspired by JK Rowling’s original stories”, rather than direct adaptations of the books and films. “These are games that have been created for the fans, by game-makers who themselves are fans of and have been inspired by the Wizarding World,” the FAQ explains.
Of course, this isn’t the first Quidditch will make the journey to consoles. Quidditch World Cup — developed by EA and Magic Pockets for PS2, Xbox, GameCube and Game Boy Advance — turns 20 later this year.
The reviews digest site Metacritic gave it an average rating of 69% — or 59% for the Game Boy version — so the bar isn’t set terribly high for Warner Bros. Games to make the best Quidditch sim ever made, whenever it launches.
