Few details have been shared thus far regarding the development of Hogwarts Legacy and the Harry Potter franchise.

The original series, created and written by author J.K. Rowling, follows Harry on his journey to defeat Lord Voldemort while becoming a powerful wizard himself in the process. Hogwarts Legacy will also take players on their very own magical journey, only with an entirely different cast of characters. Although witches and wizards can have unnaturally long life spans, like Albus Dumbledore who was born in 1881, it's unlikely that any original characters will be making an appearance in Hogwarts Legacy.

Related: What Hogwarts Legacy Can Learn From Games Like Skyrim

The earliest that a confirmed canon Harry Potter work has been set is 1927, that being Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. The Harry Potter universe has made it clear that it's willing to accept prequel content as canon so long as the stories and characters remain consistent. However, the question remains: who decides what is actually canon in the world of Harry Potter?

Hogwarts Legacy Likely Won't Be Part Of The Official Lore

Hogwarts Legacy Canon

Hogwarts Legacy will likely not be considered canon within the Harry Potter universe. This is due primarily to the fact that J.K. Rowling was not directly involved with the writing or development of the game. When it comes to what is considered canon, Rowling's endorsement is undoubtedly still a necessity. Portkey Games has said that everything in Hogwarts Legacy has been heavily inspired by Rowling's works, but the game is a unique entry created specifically for the fans by game developers who also appreciate the depth of the Harry Potter universe. So while it's likely to be an authentic-feeling story that attempts to remain faithful to the series canon, it likely won't be canon itself (though this continues to be debated on Reddit).

It's also possible that Hogwarts Legacy will feature branching storylines and multiple endings, similar to how The Witcher 3 offered multiple endings for Ciri. This would make it more difficult to be considered canon, especially if players are going to potentially be having different story-related experiences. Developers do sometimes make the choice to feature multiple endings and decide which of them is considered canon when developing sequels, but this can get murky in a hurry.

With rumors of further delays circulating, it may be some time yet before players are able to dive into the open world of Hogwarts Legacy. Originally set to release in 2022, it's looking like development issues may see Hogwarts Legacy's release delayed to 2023. It will be exciting to see just what this ambitious title has to offer when Hogwarts Legacy does eventually launch, whenever that may be.

Next: Hogwarts Legacy Likely Won't Use Harry Potter's Deadliest Spell

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Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

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