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Here's everything we know about 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,' the new game from the creators of 'Pokémon Go' coming later this year

harry potter wizards unite
  • "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" is a new smartphone game from the makers of "Pokmon Go."
  • Drawing inspiration from author J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World, players will be able to search for magic in the world around them.
  • "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" is expected to launch later in 2019; members of the press were able to play an early preview version of the game last week.

"Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" is a new smartphone game for mobile devices, inspired by J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World.

Co-developed by WB Games and Niantic, the creators of "Pokmon Go," the new "Harry Potter" game features similar mechanics, and will let players follow their own magical adventure wherever they take their smartphone.

In "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," players will take on the role of a new wizard recruit working with the Statute of Secrecy Task Force the group responsible for solving the mystery of the Calamity, a major event that scattered magical artifacts and creatures all over the world.

Players will explore the real world searching for signs of magic, encountering iconic Harry Potter characters along the way.

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While Business Insider's Matt Weinberger had a chance to try to the game at a private event, it's not ready for a global release just yet. Niantic has said "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" will launch this year, but there's no specific time frame. Pokmon Go launched in July 2016, which let players in North America venture out into the summer weather to explore the game during its early months perhaps "Wizards Unite" will repeat the trick?

Here's everything we know about "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" so far:

Niantic

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When players explore the real world, they will find a variety of Wizarding locations on their in-game map, including inns, greenhouses, fortresses, and traces of magic that will trigger special encounters.

Niantic

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Niantic

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"Harry Potter: Wizards Unite"/Niantic

In "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite," Players can specialize in different professions, like auror, magizoologist, and professor. Each profession has their strengths: Aurors are wizards who battle against the dark arts, while magizoologists track magical creatures.

"Harry Potter: Wizards Unite"/Niantic

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When visiting fortresses on the map, players will also be able to complete in Wizarding Challenges, which are multiplayer events that pit teams against a field of enemies, often with special conditions or handicaps.

Players from different professions will be encouraged to work together to defeat Wizarding Challenges and unlock rare bonuses.

Henry Blodget / Business Insider

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In "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" players can mix potions using ingredients collected in their travels, including from greenhouses. Potions can boost help provide some temporary bonuses, but Niantic warns that you'll have to go exploring in different real-life weather conditions to collect all the ingredients you might need.

Niantic

In the Harry Potter universe, portkeys are typically ordinary items that would easily be overlooked by regular people but that wizards can use to travel instantly to another location.

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If players discover a portkey, they'll be able to use their phone as a gateway to an iconic location in the Wizarding World. Using the portkey, players can view a full 360-degree environment, like Ollivander's wand shop, in augmented reality.

Warner Bros.

As they make progress, players will discover more clues leading to the truth behind the Calamity. Niantic says "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" will have a narrative spanning multiple years, with various mysteries to unravel.

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While the game doesn't take place at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermoine, Hagrid and other favorites all make appearances in "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" and its fully voice-acted story.

Niantic/WB Games

See Also:

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SEE ALSO: I tried 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite,' the new game from the creators of 'Pokmon Go,' and it's magical

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