While pre-orders for Hogwarts Legacy has a release window of late 2022, potentially close to the holiday season. While the opportunity to pre-purchase the game might appeal to players worried about physical copy availability, players may want to hold off for potential special edition and deluxe bundle options that could become available closer to the release date.

Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world RPG game that allows players to attend Harry Potter's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry during the 19th century from the perspective of a Fifth-year student. Recent trailers for the game have revealed a complex and gritty world that reimagines and expands on content from the Harry Potter books and films. While most Harry Potter characters won't be in Hogwarts Legacy, the chance to explore a different story with new important influences is likely exciting for longtime fans of the series.

Related: Hogwarts Legacy Devs Know How Much Fans Want To Murder

However, those looking to pre-order Hogwarts Legacy may want to wait until closer to the fall months of 2022, as current bonuses are lacking for most stores. According to IGN, pre-orders for Amazon, Walmart, and GameStop don't currently offer any perks, and Best Buy is only including a $10 gift card. While there haven't been any confirmations about potential deluxe or special edition options for the game, it is likely bundles will begin popping up as the release date gets closer, offering a much more interesting selection of Harry Potter-themed items for a discounted price.

Hogwarts Legacy Could Face Release Date Delays Later In 2022

Hogwarts Legacy State of Play 2022 What It Should And Shouldnt Show State of Play Logo

Pre-ordering could also be a risk due to the frequent delays currently being seen in the game industry. Hogwarts Legacy has already faced delays, with the title originally announced for release in 2021 before being pushed back to 2022. Because the game does not have a firm release date, and there has been little information outside of very recent trailers, the decision to pre-order could have players paying for a game that may not be available until sometime in 2023. While there have been no indications from Portkey Games that another delay could be looming, the actual release window is far enough away to make it a concern.

Additionally, Hogwarts Legacy has struggled with the controversy surrounding Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling, which could put many fans off when considering a pre-order. The writer has been under fire for several years due to anti-trans sentiments. This has caused many longtime Harry Potter fans to avoid purchasing or backing content that could benefit J.K. Rowling. While Hogwarts Legacy will likely be a fun and exciting way to experience the Wizarding World, waiting on pre-orders could be beneficial both for early purchase perks and in making the decision on whether or not to back a game that could be connected to hateful content.

Next: Why Hogwarts Legacy Looks Like A Trilogy

Source: IGN

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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