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Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions

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Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions
Developer(s)Unbroken Studios
Publisher(s)Warner Bros. Games[a]
SeriesWizarding World
Platform(s)
ReleasePS4, Windows, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
  • WW: September 3, 2024
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: November 8, 2024
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a sports video game developed by Unbroken Studios and published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label. The game focuses on the Harry Potter-related sport Quidditch. The player controls a character that holds a specific position in Quidditch and engages in broomstick adventures and competitive multiplayer modes.

Development commenced several years prior to its announcement in April 2023, where Warner Bros. Games released a first look alongside a limited playtest. The game was released on September 3, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with it being available from Day One on PlayStation Plus. The Nintendo Switch version will be released on November 8, 2024.

Gameplay

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Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is a fantasy sports game that focuses on competition.[1][2] The game revolves around Quidditch, a popular sport in the fictional universe of Harry Potter.[3][4] Players can customize their character and select from four different positions: Chaser, Seeker, Beater, and Keeper.[5][6] The game offers an immersive Quidditch experience that includes a variety of broomstick adventures and competitive multiplayer modes which allow players to participate in the sport with their friends.[1][7]

The game also has some departures from traditional Quidditch rules from the books and films, including the following:[8]

  • Teams have one Beater instead of two for a total of six players per team instead of seven.
  • Catching the Golden Snitch is worth 30 points instead of 150 and does not automatically end the match.
  • Instead of playing until the Snitch is caught, teams play until time expires or until one team scores 100 points.
    • If the scores are tied when time expires, a golden score overtime commences where the next goal (similar to a golden goal) or catching the Snitch wins.

Players can meet or play as numerous familiar characters from the series. The single-player career mode also allows players to not only play in Hogwarts' Inter-House Quidditch Cup but also a new Triwizard Schools Quidditch Cup in the style of the Triwizard Tournament from Goblet of Fire and finally the Quidditch World Cup representing one of 16 countries.[8]

Development

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Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is developed by Los Angeles-based Unbroken Studios[9] and published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label.[1][10] Development of the game began several years prior to 2023.[11][12] Its creation was announced 20 years after the previous Quidditch-themed game Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup.[13] The game's visual style is distinct from other Harry Potter games such as Hogwarts Legacy, as it endeavors to have a more stylized and cartoon-like appearance.[14] Despite being set in the Wizarding World universe, the game is not a direct adaptation of the books or films. The Portkey game developers strive to maintain the authenticity of J. K. Rowling's original vision while also introducing elements that allow fans to explore the world of magic in new ways.[1] Rowling has no direct involvement in the game's development.[15][16]

In May 2023, gameplay footage surfaced on Reddit and similar websites. Warner Bros. swiftly took action and removed any leaked content of a recent playtest.[17] In August 2023, additional footage leaked, in which players take on the roles of well-known characters such as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley.[18] A gameplay trailer was released on July 29, 2024.[19]

Release

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In April 2023, Warner Bros. Games unveiled the first look of Quidditch Champions along with the announcement of a limited playtest for the game.[20][21] GamesRadar+ noted that some fans expressed criticism towards the announcement, citing the absence of Quidditch in the recently launched Hogwarts Legacy.[22] In June 2024, Unbroken announced that the game would release on Windows and home consoles in September.[23] The game will have an expansion pack titled 'The Legacy Pack', which will include exclusive content from Hogwarts Legacy.[24]

Reception

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Quidditch Champions received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[30] While the lack of microtransactions was praised, the striking distinction from Hogwarts Legacy in visual fidelity was also noted.[31][32]

Sales

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Despite being one of the biggest PS Plus games of 2024 and boosting the PS Plus September 2024 player count, Quidditch Champions dropped in popularity by 48% on the PlayStation Network in its second week.[33]

Notes

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  1. ^ Published under the Portkey Games label

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Romano, Sal (2023-04-17). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions announced for consoles, PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. ^ James, Ford (2023-04-17). "Harry Potter Quidditch Champions reveal explains why it wasn't in Hogwarts Legacy". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  3. ^ Smith, David (2023-04-17). "Wizard Sport You Couldn't Play In Hogwarts Legacy Gets Own Game". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  4. ^ Chalk, Andy (2023-04-17). "A new multiplayer Harry Potter game promises all the online Quidditch you can't play in Hogwarts Legacy". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  5. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2023-04-17). "Hogwarts Legacy's biggest omission, Quidditch, gets a new stand-alone game". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  6. ^ Adamus, Agnes (2023-04-17). "Po Hogwarts Legacy nadchodzi Quidditch - jako zupełnie oddzielna gra | GRYOnline.pl". Gry-Online (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  7. ^ Ivan, Tom (2023-04-17). "Harry Potter competitive multiplayer game Quidditch Champions announced". Video Games Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  8. ^ a b Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions - Official Launch Gameplay Walkthrough Trailer. Warner Bros. Games. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions: Warner liefert Besen-Turnier nach". GamesWirtschaft (in German). 2023-04-20. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  10. ^ Schermann, Natalie (2023-04-18). "Quidditch Champions: Warner kündigt neues Harry Potter-Spiel an". GameStar (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  11. ^ Wood, Austin (2023-04-17). "New Harry Potter game is all about the Quidditch you couldn't play in Hogwarts Legacy, and playtests start this week". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  12. ^ Tan, Nicholas (2023-04-17). "Harry Potter Quidditch Champions Release Date for PC, PS5, Xbox". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  13. ^ "Harry Potter Quidditch Champions : Est-ce qu'il faut s'inquiéter ?". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). 2023-04-22. Archived from the original on 2023-04-24. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  14. ^ Mercante, Alyssa (2023-04-18). "Harry Potter Quidditch Game Announced, Explains Hogwarts Legacy Absence". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  15. ^ Bonifacic, Igor (2023-04-17). "'Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions' will take the Wizarding World's broomstick sports online". Engadget. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  16. ^ Wright, Steven T. (2023-04-18). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions - Everything We Know". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  17. ^ Leri, Michael (2023-05-22). "Quidditch Champions Gameplay Leaks, WB Swiftly Takes it Down". GameRevolution. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  18. ^ Halley, Dimitry (2023-08-01). "Neues Spiel Harry Potter Quidditch Champions ist geleakt - mit zehn Minuten Gameplay!". GameStar (in German). Archived from the original on 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  19. ^ "Harry Potter Quidditch Game Finally Shows Off Some Actual Gameplay". 29 July 2024. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  20. ^ Alexander, Cristina (2023-04-17). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Announced, Testing Signups Now Open". IGN. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  21. ^ Carr, Joey (2023-04-17). "How to sign up for the Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions limited playtest". Dot Esports. Archived from the original on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  22. ^ Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (2023-04-18). "Hogwarts Legacy fans call out the new Quidditch game for being merely cut content". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
  23. ^ Romano, Sal (2024-06-07). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions launches September 3 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  24. ^ "FAQ". Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  25. ^ "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Xbox Series X Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  27. ^ "PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  28. ^ Gould-Wilson, Jasmine (September 6, 2024). "Harry Potter Quidditch Champions review: "A fun yet forgettable nostalgia play"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  29. ^ Will, Borger (September 13, 2024). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Review". IGN. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions". Metacritic. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Review: Finally Delivering The Magical Sports Chaos You've Been Waiting For". Screen Rant. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Review / Chasing the Golden Snitch of Perfection". 11 September 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Harry Potter Quidditch Champions lost 48% of its PS5 players in a week". 16 September 2024.
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