Avalanche Software vice president of technology Rob Nelson has spoken about the studio’s efforts to “up-port” Hogwarts Legacy to Nintendo Switch 2 in a new Creator’s Voice video.
“So for Nintendo Switch 2, we had a decision to make: whether we were going to do an up-port from Nintendo Switch, or start with next-generation assets. That was a difficult decision because the easy path would have been to do the up-port from Nintendo Switch, but we felt like we were able to create a better realisation of our world by starting with the next-generation assets,” Nelson explains.
“There’s a lot of improved graphical fidelity, texture resolution, lighting and character population. This allowed us to bring the full realisation of what Hogwarts Legacy is. For Switch 2, we were able to take advantage of motion controls for aiming and flight, and also we were able to play with the mouse [controls] for a new way to experience the game as well.
“We were able to leverage the touchscreen for menu navigation, the increased screen size, the graphical fidelity that we were able to do with higher resolution, the extra processing power that allowed us to have higher frame rates. It just allowed us to do so much more with Hogwarts Legacy.
“When people play Hogwarts Legacy on Nintendo Switch 2, I just hope they feel the largeness of the game, the magic of the world, the expansiveness of the castle, just the overall fantasy of being a witch or wizard in the Harry Potter universe.”
This open-world, action role-playing game is set in the 1800s wizarding world. Promised to be “filled with immersive magic that puts players at the centre of their own adventure,” you play as a brand new fifth-year student who has a unique ability to manipulate powerful ancient magic.
You will set out on a dangerous journey to discover a hidden truth of the wizarding world, with your character’s abilities growing throughout your adventure – whether that be mastering powerful spells, brewing potions or harvesting magical plants.
Confronted with deadly enemies, you will also have the chance to meet new friends who can accompany you, interact with school professors and face dangers that may jeopardise the future of wizardkind.
The publisher has outlined the game’s key features, which include:
- Explore an Open World: The wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.
- Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to be: Learn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be.
- Experience a New Wizarding World Adventure: Experience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
Hogwarts Legacy will be released at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide on 5 June 2025.
