Niantic Labs, developer of the once immensely popular Pokémon Go, has announced plans to launch a Harry Potter AR game based on J.K. Rowling’s fantastical world of witchcraft and wizardry.
Pegged to arrive in 2018, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is an augmented reality mobile game comparable to Ingress – another Niantic title – in that players roam the real world collecting power-ups, defending locations and generally exploring their local environment.
Co-developed by Warner Bros. Interactive under the newly-formed Portkey Games banner – a cute nod to the magical objects that transport wizards from one place to another – Wizards Unite will likely expand the location database built up by Ingress (and later Pokémon Go) so that real-world locations become in-game waypoints. Only this time, players will be scrambling to the nearest Flourish & Blotts as opposed to duking it out with the local gym leader.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will reveal that magic is all around us, and allow players to be a part of Harry Potter’s rich world, through Niantic’s AR + real-world mobile game platform and the franchise expertise of WB Games San Francisco’s development and publishing team. By exploring real-world neighborhoods and cities across the globe, players will go on adventures, learn and cast spells, discover mysterious artifacts, and encounter legendary beasts and iconic characters.
Truth be told, Pokémon Go is not without its flaws, but the fact that Niantic’s AR masterstroke still manages to attract around 65 million monthly users means that Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will tap into a thriving market that’s simply bursting at the seams with potential.
Here’s the official word from David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment:
With this game, we are allowing the passionate, worldwide fan base to experience J.K. Rowling’s deeply powerful and imaginative universe in a new, truly immersive way.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is expected to cast a spell over iOS and Android users in 2018. Further details, including a firm release date, will be announced in the coming months, so have your wands at the ready.
