More than a year ago,Pokemon GOdeveloper Niantic announced that it is working onHarry Potter: Wizards Unite. The game was described as a sort ofmagical version ofPokemon GOas players would be able to explore their neighborhoods, learn spells and team up with other players to take down powerful enemies. While many were excited about the concept, Niantic had yet to show off the game at all.
That all changed today, though. Niantic and WB Games, who are co-developing and co-publishing the game, have revealed the very first trailer forHarry Potter: Wizards Unite. The teaser trailer is just 31 seconds long altogether and doesn’t include any gameplay footage. However, it does say that the wizarding world needs players' help because it is “at risk of exposure.”
Traces of magic have been appearing in the Muggle world, explains the description, and players have to work to uphold the “Statute of Secrecy.” InHarry Potterlore, the statute was used to discourage wizards from using magic out in the world because of the persecution that they faced for it. So, to say that it’s a big deal that magic is showing up (seemingly) at random in the Muggle world would be an understatement.
Niantic and WB Games also confirm thatHarry Potter: Wizards Uniteplayers will be unraveling a “global mystery.“Harry Potterfans may be well used to mysterious quests and adventures by now, consideringhow popular the mobile gameHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteryhas been. Though, the real-world setting and AR (augmented reality) technology should mean that these two mysteriousHarry Pottergames feel a lot different to play.
The teaser trailer may be brief, but even the logo for the game provides some additional hints at what fans can expect. For starters, the three wands that make up the letter “A” in the word “WIZARDS” seem to belong to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Niantic had already stated that the game would includefamous charactersso an appearance from the Golden Trio seems all but confirmed.
Fans have also pointed out that the logo bears a similarity to the logo for theHarry Potterspin-off movies,Fantastic Beasts. It’s possible then, that Newt Scamander could show up in the game too, possibly as part of a tie-in event. The game isn’t being released until 2019, though, so Niantic has plenty of time to confirm (or deny) its tie-in plans.
Harry Potter: Wizards Uniteis scheduled to release in 2019 on Android and iOS devices.
