Harry Potter: Magic Awakened

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a collectible card role-playing video game developed by NetEase Games. NetEase published the game in China and Taiwan, while Warner Bros. Games (under the Portkey Games banner) published elsewhere. The game focuses on controlling a student being new at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that engages with the magical world of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
Developer(s)NetEase Games
Publisher(s)
SeriesHarry Potter
Platform(s)
Release
    • CHN: September 9, 2021
    • TW: September 9, 2021
    • WW: June 27, 2023
Genre(s)Role-playing video game

The game was released in China (including Taiwan) on September 9, 2021 and internationally on June 27, 2023 for Microsoft Windows (SEA server only), Android and iOS.

Gameplay edit

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a collectible card role-playing video game set in the magical world of Harry Potter. As a new student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, players will customize their character, buy school supplies at Diagon Alley, be sorted into a house by the Sorting Hat, and join the Dueling Club. Players are able to encounter known characters from the original series and learn spells and charms. The game offers new storylines and challenging trials, and makes players face off against other characters in duels.[1][2] The game's primary focus is on utilizing cards, which must be employed strategically as spells in duels to secure a win. Combining the cards can result in even stronger spells.[3]

Synopsis edit

Set ten years after the second wizarding war, the story begins with the player receiving a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts.[4] Accompanied by Rubeus Hagrid, the protagonist visits Diagon Alley to purchase magical items like a wand and an owl as a pet. During their journey on the Hogwarts Express to the castle, the main character interacts with other first-year students. After arriving at Hogwarts, Minerva McGonagall greets everyone in the Great Hall and gives a brief account of the recent Battle of Hogwarts, which led to Lord Voldemort's downfall.[a] Subsequently, the Sorting Hat sorts the protagonist and their peers into the different Hogwarts houses.

The protagonist begins their term at Hogwarts by going to the first class, focusing on charms, with instruction provided by Filius Flitwick. Shortly after, they join the Duelling Club, engaging in duels against other students.

Development edit

Release edit

In June 2020, NetEase opened sign-ups for an open beta of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened in China.[5][6] In June 2021, the official game trailer was released, showing some familiar characters, creatures, and scenes from the Harry Potter universe. Aragog and his army of spiders, the pixies from Gilderoy Lockhart's class, and the centaurs from the Forbidden Forest are being featured in the trailer.[7] In September 2021, it was officially released in China.[8] While NetEase publishes the game in mainland China, the game is published by Enyi Games in Taiwan.[9][10]

In February 2022, it was announced that the game would be launching in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania and will be co-published in those regions by NetEase and Warner Bros. Interactive. A final release date has yet to be announced.[11][12] The game is expected to be released on Android and iOS, with pre-registration being available since February 2022.[13][14] In March 2023, the game was soft-launched in a number of select countries.[15][16]

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened was released internationally on June 27, 2023.[17]

Reception edit

According to review aggregator Metacritic, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened received "generally favorable" reviews.[20]

Revenue edit

Within 2 months of the game's release in China, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened generated over $228 million across the Apple App Store and Google Play. By that, the game became the second-highest grossing Harry Potter mobile game and achieved the best launch for a Harry Potter-related mobile game.[8] As of October 2022, Magic Awakened generated a total of $358 million.[21]

The game's global release generated a total revenue of $2.3 million during its first day. Specifically, the NetEase release contributed $1.3 million, while Warner Bros. Games' release added $1 million to the overall earnings.[22]

Notes edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened and Everything Else Featured at NetEase Connect 2022". IGN. 2022-05-20. Archived from the original on 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  2. ^ Takahashi, Dean (2022-02-10). "Warner Bros. and NetEase will launch Harry Potter: Magic Awakened mobile game in 2022". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  3. ^ Beverungen, Jasmin (2022-02-11). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened kommt nach Deutschland und schickt euch nach Hogwarts". GamePro (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  4. ^ Forde, Matthew (2019-10-30). "Warner Bros. and NetEase partner for card RPG Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. ^ "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened launches open beta in China". Pocket Gamer. 22 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  6. ^ Ferreira, Pedro (2019-10-30). "Revelado novo RPG Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". IGN Portugal (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  7. ^ Weißmann, Melanie (2021-06-09). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened erscheint wohl bald weltweit - hier ist ein neuer Trailer". Eurogamer (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  8. ^ a b Partis, Danielle (2021-11-05). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened makes $228 million in two months". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-04-28. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  9. ^ Shen, Xinmei (2019-10-30). "There's a new Harry Potter game coming from NetEase". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  10. ^ "网易"哈利波特"手游台港发行 大量词汇被禁用注冊 | 早报". Lianhe Zaobao. 2021-09-11. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  11. ^ LeBlanc, Wesley (2022-02-10). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Is A Free-To-Play Collectible Card Game MMO Coming To Mobile This Year". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  12. ^ Beresford, Trilby (2022-02-10). "'Harry Potter: Magic Awakened' Mobile Game Will Debut In U.S. This Year". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  13. ^ Cryer, Hirun (2022-02-10). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a card-battling MMO coming to mobiles this year". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2022-12-24. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  14. ^ Makuch, Eddie (2022-02-10). "Harry Potter CCG Magic Awakened Releases This Year In The West". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2023-04-29. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  15. ^ Derrick, Connor (2023-04-04). "Harry Potter Magic Awakens, a brand new CCG set in the Wizarding World, soft launches in select countries". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  16. ^ Pugliese, Tommaso (2023-04-03). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, soft launch a sorpresa in dieci paesi". Multiplayer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  17. ^ "Warner Bros, NetEase launch 'Harry Potter: Magic Awakened' video game". Reuters. 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  18. ^ "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  19. ^ "Test du jeu Harry Potter : La Magie Émerge sur Android". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). 2023-06-29. Archived from the original on 2023-07-29. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  20. ^ "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
  21. ^ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-10-06). "Harry Potter mobile games have amassed $1bn in player spending". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  22. ^ Astle, Aaron; Writer, Staff (2023-07-12). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened generated $2.3 million in first week of global release". pocketgamer.biz. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2023-07-30.

External links edit