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What Year is Hogwarts Legacy Set in?


Hogwarts Legacy just got a lot closer, thanks to a recent 15-minute gameplay overview that detailed many features in the open-world RPG game, which arrived well over a year after our first glimpse with the official trailer. Since then, the website didn't reveal much more beyond what we already learned from the trailer, but the new featurette definitely promises a wealth of wizarding-related action, both in and outside the classrooms at Hogwarts. But what's the story, and when is Hogwarts Legacy set along the Harry Potter timeline?

Related: Major Hogwarts Legacy Reveal Could Be Coming Soon

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Hogwarts Legacy takes place in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter made famous in all the books and all the movies, including the Fantastic Beasts installments. However, unlike the latest spin-offs, the game is set in the United Kingdom - the home, if you will, of the Wizarding World. And as seen in both the trailer and the gameplay overview, it doesn't look like you'll be able to visit any overseas locations.

Related: Is Hogwarts Legacy Open-world? Areas We'd Love to Visit in the Upcoming Game

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Hogwarts Legacy

However, you will be able to explore a wealth of Wizarding World settings, such as Hogwarts, its surrounding grounds, the Forbidden Forest, the village of Hogsmeade, Gringotts Bank, and several new and exciting locations up and down the British countryside. But while this is a free-roam game, that doesn't mean you'll always be able to do as you please, because like with any open-world RPG, there is, of course, a story to follow.

Related: Will There Be Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy?

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The character you play has received a "late letter of acceptance" to the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, so you'll be enrolling as a Fifth Year. Nevertheless, you'll still have the opportunity to choose your house - whether it's Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, or Gryffindor - relax in your common room, and befriend other students, each of whom will have their own unique backstory and defining character traits.

Related: Will Hogwarts Legacy Feature Online Multiplayer?

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As you explore your surroundings, and as you undertake missions, side quests, and the overarching story campaign, you'll recognize many things, such as the environments themselves, classes, spells, and fantastic beasts. You might even recognize a few characters at Hogwarts itself, such as Nearly-Headless Nick, who can be seen floating around in the gameplay overview, as well as the ghost Peeves, who didn't make it to the movies.

Related: Open-World Harry Potter RPG Game Hogwarts Legacy Release Date Explained

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Hogwarts Legacy

But you probably won't recognize many other characters, whether it's the teachers, students, or all the other witches and wizards who populate the Wizarding World. But why? Well, because Hogwarts Legacy doesn't actually orbit the same period of time as the Harry Potter stories. As you have probably already learned from the trailer and the gameplay overview gameplay overview, w, the game takes place long before Harry Potter ever sets foot inside Hogwarts.

Related: Hogwarts Legacy GAMEPLAY Footage Finally Revealed

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So when exactly is Hogwarts Legacy set? And also, is it canon with the Harry Potter stories? And what's the story of the game? The game actually takes place in the late 1800s, though no specific year is given (probably to avoid creating any inconsistencies with the rich history that has already been established by Wizarding World creator JK Rowling). So the game takes place roughly 100 years before the events of Harry Potter.

Related: Hogwarts Legacy Reportedly Features an Open-world Adventure Gameplay

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Hogwarts Legacy

Whether or not it's canon with Harry Potter is unknown. These days, many video games are considered canon with their respective movies, but nothing along these lines have been made clear with regards to Hogwarts Legacy. With that said, the fact that it's set in the late 1800s would suggest that it is canon because the creators have probably avoided the Harry Potter timeline to ensure that they don't create any inconsistencies.

Related: New Trailer for Hogwarts Legacy Brings Us to Hogwarts in the 1800s

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Hogwarts Legacy

As far as the story goes, you'll play a young witch or wizard (you can choose whether you're male or female) who possesses a unique ability to control ancient magic. You'll enroll as a Fifth Year, and you'll be thrust into the heart of an adventure alongside Professor Fig, as you both work together to unravel the rumors of a mounting Goblin rebellion. The Goblins, it would appear, are in allegiance with dark wizards.

Related: Hogwarts Legacy Developer Quits Following Controversy Over YouTube Channel

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Hogwarts Legacy

Something the marketing has been heavily focused on is the game's morality system. In other words, as a witch or wizard, you'll be given the choice to be good or bad throughout the game, and you'll face many choices that will determine both your fate and that of the Wizarding World. As the tagline says, "Live the unwritten", which suggests that your character's destiny is there to be shaped, and isn't prewritten.

Hogwarts Legacy is set for release sometime during Q4, 2022.

Related: Is Hogwarts Legacy Still Set For 2022?

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