It’s been years since we first feasted on leaked footage of a Harry Potter role-playing game, strongly rumoured to be in development at Utah-based developer Avalanche Software. The team – not to be confused with Avalanche Studios, the Swedish studio best known for the Just Cause games – is a subsidiary of Warner Bros and has been staffing up for a British-themed blockbuster for many years.
Now it looks like an announcement could be imminent, as a job listing for an Associate Lighting Technical Artist mentions that candidates will “work closely with a talented group of artists and engineers on an exciting, soon to be announced AAA title”. It goes on to make multiple references to Unreal Engine 4, which will presumably be the tech powering the anticipated title.
It’s still not much to go on, but unless plans have changed radically, we’re confident this is the trip to Hogwarts that we’ve waited over two decades for. Harry Potter is such a perfect, ready-made backdrop for an RPG that we’re bemused it’s taken this long to become a reality. Maybe He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has been delaying things behind-the-scenes.
[source careers.warnermediagroup.com, via twistedvoxel.com]
Comments 32
A good open world Harry Potter RPG is quite literally one of my dream games.
@LiamCroft Yeah, I feel the same way. I actually thought some of the older licensed movie games were decent, but this has the potential to be incredible.
It's been a long time since that original footage leaked, so let's hope they're giving it the time and budget it needs to be something special.
This is my absolute dream game, it could be fantastic but I’m veeeeery nervous that it’ll end up being live-service just like Avengers. Think about it, the entire Hogwarts structure is tailor made for GaaS, with the seasons changing, House Cup, Quidditch season etc. Plus, they know they’ll make a mint off Potter fans. Please prove me wrong.
I dont think it's the Harry Potter game I read this on the job post
The Lighting Technical Artist will work closely with a team to create visually stunning lighting and ambiance for real REAL WORLD SETTINGS and will contribute to the overall aesthetic beauty of the game
i would love a full blown Harry Potter RPG as long as it doesn't adapt the Curse Child, JK may have authorised it but it was the biggest piece of bad fanfiction i had ever read and it should be stripped from the canon, it doesn't even follow the rules of the Potterverse
well whatever, i brought the script book read it once then chucked it in the bin
never again
@potter32 I mean, it's not like Harry Potter is pure fantasy, right? It's set within the real world to some extent.
Super excited for this ! Love me some Harry Potter . Just glad that leaked trailer from a year or so was actually real.
@get2sammyb I definitely have fond memories of The Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets on PSone.
@get2sammyb real world, London Maybe The other than that Hogwarts and all the other locations are all fictional. That's why I don't think this is the Harry Potter game But I could be completely wrong and I hope I am. I would love an open world Harry Potter game like the order of the Phoenix was on PS3?
I just hope its an absolute Azkabanter of of a game
@nessisonett big chance it will be.
it will suposedly feature co op and MP dueling...
would not be suprised if it has a destiny styled gameplay structures with factions etc.
This game has the potential to be phenomenal, but I'll avoid getting excited until there's more information.
@potter32 Sure but those fictional locations aren’t in space or anything. They still have forests, fields, dorm rooms, etc.
@jdv95 link that info please
@nessisonett link info please
Something about an HP game being made in America... it just doesn’t sit well with me. We’ll see!
@LiamCroft i still have my copy of Philosophers Stone on PS1, although i had Chamber of Secrets on the PS2
Been such a long time since I've played a Harry Potter game. An RPG title sounds like fun.
@nessisonett Yeah, same. I want this to be good, but they'll screw it up somehow for sure. It's WB after all...
But it could be so good. Imagine different skill trees for various spells, potions and whatnot. You can go to optional classes that can unlock more skills. Maybe read up in the forbidden section of the library and unlock/discover a secret spell or potion recipe. Find cool hidden items like the Marauder's Map, or sneak out at night using the invisibility cloak. Find secret rooms at Hogwarts. Damn, so much potential. It won't live up to it unfortunately.
I've got fond memories of playing chamber of secrets and prisoner of azkaban on PS2, I'd welcome a Harry Potter RPG.
Games are about fun, don't try to convince me that 32 is too old to enjoy something like Harry Potter.
When devs say soon that means 1 week to 1 year
Don't tease me!
I want this to be true so bad.
Harry Potter games were pretty decent - the open ish world ones especially.... we need one using the new technology.
This could be great. It's narrative is absolutely perfect for an RPG, with going to school and all. It would be awesome for developing a character. Getting in trouble and not getting caught are in there. There are points for a house, with four different ones to choose. Lots characters to interact with, friendships, roamance(s), enemies, stop bullying, be the bully, forbidden spells, pranks, decent crafting. Yeah, it's got everything lined up.
I know I'd join house slytheryn and stir up some trouble. Why follow the dark lord when you can be the dark lord.
Let me make my character and pick my school ect. This could be amazing if done right.
Game Boy Advance had some pretty stellar old school turn based RPGs, but a modern open world would be fantastic. Especially if set after the events of the books/movies.
@Deadhunter According to the big leak a year or so ago, it’s gonna be set way before the events of the books, in the 1800s. Could be interesting.
Harry Potter should have been the fantasy story version of Star Wars for movie games. In that, it should have had tons of great games that even added to the overall Harry Potter canon.
I'd love an actually really good Harry Potter RPG.
"Real world settings" could still apply to a Harry Potter themed RPG game. Very much of the material of Harry Potter takes place in the real world, hence the 9 3/4 hiding within the real world, only seen by wizard. I think this job posting has promise.
OK and yes, I am very enthusiastic about an RPG in the world of Harry Potter AND not include Harry Potter. Sounds great!
@potter32 Hogwarts might be fictional but it's filmed in and around real locations. Besides, there isn't a functional difference between lighting a video game version of an actual real location and doing the same for a fictional one that looks real. For example, the locations in GTAV aren't real but are depicted as if they are. On the other hand, you could have a game set in a real location but depicted in a cartoony style. In other words, it's irrelevant if the place happens to exist, it's just down to if it's meant to look realistic.
Has potential obviously...I just hope that WB wouldn't view it as a reason for mtx mana from heaven! Get your wand customised! Get your familiar/owl!! Struggling with the skill tree grind,jump on ahead! Want to join the Quidditch team, Nimbus 2000 on special this week!
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