Shocked observers cry "black magic" after Hogwarts Legacy Switch gameplay leaks and somehow looks half decent
Nov. 7, 2023Well, those PS1 Hagrid comparisons haven’t aged well
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Some very unofficialHogwarts LegacySwitch gameplay has leaked, and everyone’s wondering what sort of Dark Magic is being used to make it look so good.
As is being discussed onReddit, someone managed to get their hands on a copy of Hogwarts Legacy on Switch ahead of its November 14 release date, and they recorded a video of the open-world behemoth running shockingly smoothly on Nintendo’s mobile hardware. Check it out:
Granted, the footage wasn’t recorded directly from the Switch, potentially making it easier to gloss right over frame rate dips and other technical issues, but this is a flattering video for Hogwarts Legacy’s Switch port regardless. In fact, I’d argue this is a moment of redemption for the Switch version afterit was mercilessly mocked with comparisons to the PS1 Hagrid meme.
Switch ports of big AAA games are wildly unpredictable things. Recently,Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption introduction on Switchwas slammed for charging fans $50 for a basic port, whileMortal Kombat 1 on Switch was skewered at launch over a variety of technical issues. Meanwhile, games like Alien: Isolation, Dragon Quest 11, and The Witcher 3 run beautifully on Switch despite the dips in visual fidelity.
“That looks… good? Honestly can’t believe it’s running at all,” saysrisingsynth.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
And so on. Hogwarts Legacy on Switch still has a lot to prove, and the ultimate test will be when it launches next week, but for now there’s a lot of reason for Wizarding World fans to be optimistic for the first mobile version of the game.
The release of Hogwarts Legacy has been the subject of criticism and debate due to J.K. Rowling’s public stance on gender identity, which continues to challenge the inclusivity at the heart of the Harry Potter community. Here is our explainer on theHogwarts Legacy controversy. If you’d like to offer your support to the communities affected by Rowling’s rhetoric, consider donating to theNational Center for Transgender Equalityin the US, orMermaidsin the UK.
After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar’s west coast Staff Writer, I’m responsible for managing the site’s western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I’m too afraid to finish.
How to complete the Indiana Jones Seat of Eternity Canopic Jar puzzle
How to complete the Indiana Jones A Date to Remember mystery
Todd Howard “rolled his eyes” at the idea of Troy Baker playing Indiana Jones in the Great Circle, but the Bethesda boss later told him “you’re doing a hell of a job”
