Remember how insanely popular Pokémon Go was? Developer Niantic Labs has just reported that they’ll be launching Harry Potter: Wizards Unite and boy, are we psyched for it. It’s another augmented reality mobile app that will get people venturing into the real world – you know, collecting power-ups, exploring the area, that sort of thing. The game’s co-developed by Warner Bros. and their new aptly-named brand Portkey Games.
They claim that such AR mobile games provide incentives for exploration, exercise, and real-world social interaction, but really, we all just want a Harry Potter game that comes to life.
Niantic said: “With Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, players that have been dreaming of becoming real life Wizards will finally get the chance to experience JK. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Players will learn spells, explore their real world neighborhoods and cities to discover & fight legendary beasts and team up with others to take down powerful enemies”.
Wait, what – “legendary beasts”? Are we to duel with Dementors and Blast-Ended Skrewts instead of taking down the Dark Forces? What about the Death Eaters that lie in hiding? With antagonists like Grindelwald and Voldemort, surely we can do better than duelling “legendary beasts”? We’re also assuming that teaming up with others means that the Hogwarts’ rivalry will be coming to life with the founders’ four houses.
We understand that an AR game has to be action-oriented but hopefully, this doesn’t become a game that merely relies on Harry Potter jargon and spells – we want our Wizarding World to be as authentic as possible.
More details about the game will be announced in 2018. If you want to know more, you can visit the official Harry Potter: Wizards Unite website.
Images: Harry Potter
Header Image: Niantic
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