As 2022 draws to a close, gamers are starting to look towards 2023 and what exciting new titles it has to offer. The first few months of 2023 are absolutely stacked with heavy-hitter releases, and Hogwarts Legacy is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of the entire year. A game that finally seems to deliver on every Harry Potter fan's dream of attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hogwarts Legacy is releasing on February 10, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X, and for those that just can't wait, there's a way to play the game a few days early.
After years of rumors and leaks, Hogwarts Legacy was officially announced all the way back in September 2020. And now, two years later, Hogwarts Legacy is gearing up to finally release with a slew of gameplay trailers showcasing the title in more detail. While February 10 isn't that far away now, those that are desperate to play the game as soon as possible can gain early access, though they have to pay a little more for the privilege.
How To Gain Early Access to Hogwarts Legacy
Gaining early access to Hogwarts Legacy is extremely straightforward. All fans need to do is pre-order either the Deluxe, Digital Deluxe, or Collector's Edition of the game. Putting down the extra cash will give players 72 hours of early access to the game, meaning that they can play Hogwarts Legacy from February 7, 2023. However, these edition upgrades aren't cheap.
Both the Deluxe Edition and Digital Deluxe Edition of Hogwarts Legacy will set players back $79.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, and the Collector's Edition retails for an eye-watering $300. While the Collector's Edition is obviously a massive price hike, the Deluxe Editions of Hogwarts Legacy aren't too much of an increase from the base game, coming in at just $10 more than the Standard Edition. If players are desperate to get their hands on Hogwarts Legacy as soon as possible, then another $10 isn't too much of an ask.
Though it's important to note that this 72-hour early access bonus won't count for the Xbox One or PS4 versions of the game. Recently, it was announced that the previous-gen versions of Hogwarts Legacy are being delayed until April, which means that this 72-hour bonus probably won't be available for those iterations. The same can be assumed for the Nintendo Switch version of the game, which is set for a July release.
On top of the 72-hour early access, fans who buy the Deluxe and Digital Deluxe Editions of Hogwarts Legacy get quite a few additional bonuses for the extra $10. The Deluxe Editions of Hogwarts Legacy come with a Dark Arts Pack, which adds a Thestral Mount to the game along with a Dark Arts cosmetic set, a Dark Arts Garrison Hat, and a Dark Arts Battle Arena. The PS5 version of the Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition also comes with an exclusive quest that sees players explore the haunted Hogsmeade shop, which is exclusive to the PlayStation versions of the game for a year. For those that really want to splash out, the Collector's Edition of Hogwarts Legacy comes with all of the Deluxe Edition's digital content, as well as a Kelpie Robe cosmetic, a steelbook case, and a life-size floating wand model with a book base. However, fans will have a pretty difficult time trying to track down Hogwarts Legacy's Collector's Edition now.
Hogwarts Legacy releases on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on February 10, 2023, followed by a PS4 and Xbox One release on April 4, 2023, and a Switch launch on July 25, 2023.