Booksellers have sold over 500 million copies of Harry Potter worldwide since the boy wizard appeared on the scene in 1998. Until recently, things have been a bit quiet in the wizarding world, leaving lifelong fans of the Harry Potter franchise chomping at the bit for new content.
Luckily, the arrival of Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world RPG video game, has brought the world’s favorite Gryffindor back into the public eye.
Have you ever wondered how Harry Potter went from a humble 300-page novel to a 25 billion-dollar international brand, including theme parks and a record-breaking film franchise? We assure you there was no magic involved!
Get ready for the release of Hogwarts Legacy with these five fascinating facts about the franchise surrounding the world’s favorite book series.
1. The Book Series
The franchise’s popularity began with the release of the source material: the record-breaking seven-book series. To put the series’ success into perspective, the next most popular series would need to sell 150 million more copies to catch up!
2. The Film Series
The Harry Potter film series is the number-one film franchise in over 75 countries, making it the world’s top movie series. It has made 7.6 billion dollars at the box office. That doesn’t include the spin-off film series Fantastic Beasts.
3. The Theme Parks
Have you been to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, the Harry Potter theme parks in Florida, California, Japan, and China? These detailed, fully immersive fan experiences have increased theme park attendance by 32.1% since opening in 2016.
4. Pottermore
The website Pottermore took Potter fans by storm when it began in 2012. It offered the first “official” sorting quiz. Users could also take a quiz to determine the components of their unique wand.
Fans of the books gained access to the author’s notes on the world of the series, including details about the American wizarding school Ilvermorny. Those details have inspired fan fiction and even wizard “wrock” music across the fandom.
5. Hogwarts Legacy
All of that has led to the release of Hogwarts Legacy, a single-player, open-world roleplaying game set at Hogwarts in the 1800s. You’ll play as a new fifth-year student. Players get to build their own character, choose their own Hogwarts house, and uncover a dark secret about the wizarding world.
This game is the perfect treat for adult fans who never received their Hogwarts letter. If you can’t wait until release day, check out the incredible walkthrough on EIP Gaming for a sneak peek.
The Magic of the Harry Potter Franchise
Whether you dressed up and stood in line at the bookstore on release day or just stumbled into Hogwarts recently, you’ve heard of the Harry Potter franchise. The story’s impressive staying power has launched films, attractions, and other media, engaging our imaginations across mediums. We can’t wait to dig into Harry Potter games like the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy!
Are you looking for more gaming news while you wait for the new game’s release? Check out the blog for all the news you need to keep up with your favorite gaming franchises.
