For the first time in several years, Call of Duty isn’t the world’s best-selling video game of the year. Instead, a magical thing happened as Potterheads all over the world banded together, put on the Sorting Hat, and waved their wands to help Hogwarts Legacy sell more than 22 million copies in 2023.
This massive sales figure, confirmed by Warner Bros. Games, as per Variety, signifies a success for the title’s launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, followed by later releases on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
The game’s popularity soared, with 15 million copies sold before its release on the latter three platforms, indicating that there has always been a consistent demand for the open-world AAA Harry Potter title across various gaming systems. Two million copies were sold during the December holiday season alone, illustrating the game’s strong appeal during a key sales period.
David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, expressed pride not only in the sales figures but in how the game delighted fans. He highlighted that Hogwarts Legacy brought the Harry Potter world to life in a new way, allowing players to immerse themselves in the story and environment in a personalized manner. This innovative and, in a way, unique approach, as Haddad suggests, was a crucial factor in the game’s widespread resonance and its status as the best-selling game of the year worldwide.
While Hogwarts Legacy isn’t the first Harry Potter video game, it’s arguably the first big production title in Wizarding World franchise. It’s interesting as well that its development and/or release came years following the conclusion of the original live-action adaptation of the Harry Potter novels.
Hogwarts Legacy’s engagement metrics further highlight its success, with players accumulating 707 million hours of its gameplay. This high level of engagement is reflected in the diverse activities players indulged in within the game: it saw players brew 819 million potions, harvest 1.3 billion magical plants, rescue 593 million magical beasts, and, to top it all off, defeat 4.9 billion dark wizards. These statistics not only demonstrate the game’s extensive content but also the players’ deep involvement in the magical world of Hogwarts, contrary to earlier reports.
More than its sales number, the success of Hogwarts Legacy has officially set the stage for further expansions within the Wizarding World universe. Warner Bros. Games is already working on follow-up additions, including a game based on Quidditch, currently in beta-testing, and other unannounced projects aimed at deepening experiences in this magical world. Finally, HBO is currently developing a new live-action adaptation of the Harry Potter books. This time, it will be a TV show that will be more faithful to the source material.
Aside from Hogwarts Legacy, Warner Bros. Games has also seen success with its other titles such as Mortal Kombat 1, a game that a significant number of players enjoyed (and criticized) and was dubiously nominated for the best fighting game of the year.
The upcoming launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and the wide release of MultiVersus suggest a continued emphasis on developing games that capitalize on Warner Bros.’ extensive range of intellectual properties.
The leadership at Warner Bros. Discovery, including CEO David Zaslav, has emphasized the importance of franchise-based games in keeping these intellectual properties relevant and resonant. This strategy includes transforming major franchises to incorporate live services, multi-platform, and free-to-play extensions, aiming to engage more players on various platforms.
The future looks bright for Warner Bros. Games as they continue to explore and expand the Harry Potter universe, along with other major franchises, in the gaming domain.
While it’s unclear when Hogwarts Legacy’s sequel is coming out, it’s all but guaranteed that a follow-up is coming.
