SnitchSeeker got the chance to test out the soon-to-be-released Harry Potter: Wizards Unite AR mobile game, which is similar to Pokemon Go, but will immerse fans into the Wizarding World and muggle world alike, allow for multiplayer and multi-year and tier gaming, and explore around the game with some familiar faces - including Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Death Eaters, and much more.
At the preview event earlier this week at Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros. Games gave a preview of the game, where Sirius Black is attacked by a dementor, and the gamer is set to protect him with the Patronus Charm.
Guest host and comedian Tiffany Haddish was on hand to test try Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, out this Friday for all fans, along with early gamers, fans, and influencers, and started off with revealing why she loved the Harry Potter saga, and also got the chance to choose her avatar for the game (which does include in-app photo filters).
As for the game itself, here's a preview. Like Pokemon Go, the gamer has their phone set to peruse their surroundings - with camera on - and once a magical creature or something suspicious is afoot, the camera stops and prompts the wizard to take action.
Here's one example not at or around the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and in a regular muggle environment.
Hedwig is one of dozens of creatures, beings, characters, artefacts, magical items, and more that players can spot to collect, fight, and continue their gameplay. Pretty much everyone started off Harry Potter: Wizards Unite this week by helping Hagrid out, below.
Many more details and teasers for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite can be found below. Again, the game will be available in iOS and Android right at the summer solstice, on June 21, 2019.
Quote:
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is a new augmented reality (AR) real-world mobile game inspired by the Wizarding World that puts magic in the hands of players worldwide. Co-published and co-developed by WB Games San Francisco and Niantic, Inc., Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is part of Portkey Games, the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and video game experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories.
In Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, players will take on the role of a new recruit working within the Statute of Secrecy Task Force, helping to solve the mystery of the Calamity. Players will be able to explore their real-world neighborhoods and cities to discover mysterious artifacts, cast spells, and encounter fantastic beasts and iconic characters along the way.
Features:
Real World Exploration - While Players explore the real world, they will find a variety of wizarding locations on their Map, including Inns, Greenhouses and Fortresses. They’ll also come across magical Traces, where they must cast spells in order to return objects stolen from the wizarding world by the mysterious Calamity.
Mysteries - A deep, multi-year narrative arc will have players discovering the truth behind the Calamity.
Spell Casting & Advanced AR+ Encounters - Magical Traces will trigger richly detailed 3D encounters in full 360-degree advanced AR+ where players will need to cast various spells (tracing a glyph on screen) to defeat confounding magic.
Wizarding Challenges - Synchronous multiplayer challenges in Fortresses on the Map will present a complete RPG experience featuring shared arenas, coordinated team play and exciting combat encounters.
Professions - Players can specialize in different professions: Auror, Magizoologist and Professor. Players from different professions will be encouraged to work together to defeat Wizarding Challenges and unlock rare content.
Portkeys - Upon discovering and activating a Portkey, players will be able to reveal an immersive VR-like experience and transport themselves to explore iconic Wizarding World locations.
Potion Crafting - Players can collect Potion Ingredients from Greenhouses on the Map in order to brew different Potions that can improve their gameplay. Greenhouses are affected by distinct biomes and weather conditions, making each one a unique source of Ingredients for players.