In June 2023, a MMO for the popular Harry Potter franchise was released in the West with Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. Now, the responsible parties at Warner Bros. Games and Portkey Games have unexpectedly announced the premature closure in America, Europe, and Oceania.
What is the reason for the shutdown? According to the statement on magicawakened.com, the Western servers of the MMO are set to shut down forever on October 29, 2024. The game was already removed from the App Store and Google Play Store on August 26, 2024. Since that date, it has not been possible to make in-game purchases.
Until the end in October, all interested parties can still experience Harry Potter: Magic Awakened. And if you’re coincidentally in Asia, you can even continue playing the MMO, as the Asian servers are expected to remain live. In China, the game has actually been playable since 2021.
Here is the trailer for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened:
Mobile, yes, but not so bad
What kind of game was it? Similar to Blizzard, Warner Bros. Games also teamed up with the Chinese mobile experts at NetEase to develop a mobile game for a renowned franchise aimed at the Chinese market and beyond.
In Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, you create a character and visit the famous wizarding school Hogwarts about ten years after the books. With Hagrid by your side, your adventure begins in Diagon Alley, where you gather supplies for the upcoming school year. As a first-year student, the Sorting Hat eventually lands on your head, allowing you to choose your house.
In class, you meet familiar teachers like Minerva McGonagall, who is now the headmistress, or Filius Flitwick. You can explore the castle completely freely and constantly interact with other players. The combat system is turn-based. Through cards, you learn new spells. There is an alchemy system and PvP duels, a Quidditch mini-game, and more.
Why the closure? The developers do not provide a reason for the premature end in the West, other than “the time is right.” Just last week, there were supposedly new ability cards and powers, and a design competition is currently underway. Accordingly, the announcement is quite surprising. This is not the first MMO to meet its end in 2024: An important free-to-play MMORPG is closing after 10 years
