Game's Journey and Current Status
In a significant turn of events, Warner Bros has announced the impending shutdown of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened in the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, set for October. This decision comes just over a year after the game was launched internationally, following its initial debut in China and Taiwan in 2021.
The game made its global debut in July 2023, including a version for Windows, although its PC servers were limited to Southeast Asia. According to magicawakened.com, the game will still be accessible to players in Asia, including regions such as the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and select territories in MENA.
As of now, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened has been removed from both the App Store and Google Play, with in-game purchases also halted. Players can continue to enjoy the game until October 29, when the servers will officially go offline.
For PC gamers, there may be a potential workaround. While magicawakened.com offers limited information, visiting harrypottermagicawakened.com reveals a more comprehensive overview of the game, along with a functional link to the PC client. Given that the servers are managed by NetEase, it is anticipated that they will continue to operate independently.
Player Reactions and Future Prospects
On platforms like Reddit, players are contemplating the possibility of transitioning to NetEase servers. However, this option is fraught with challenges, as it would result in a complete loss of progress, including characters and items that may have required significant investment. The separate account systems mean that players cannot transfer their hard-earned achievements, leading to a wave of frustration within the community.
Some optimistic players hope that NetEase might establish a few servers in North America and Europe, but this prospect appears unlikely. The prevailing sentiment among players leans towards disappointment, reflecting a stark contrast to the excitement surrounding the franchise.
The demise of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened sharply contrasts with the success of Hogwarts Legacy, which Warner Bros heralded as “the best-selling game of the year in the entire industry worldwide” at the beginning of 2024. Following the disappointing performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Warner Bros expressed a desire to focus on “mobile and multi-platform free-to-play” games, particularly within its core franchises, including Harry Potter. Yet, the swift closure of this mobile and PC title raises questions about the viability of such strategies.
As inquiries continue, I have reached out to both Warner Bros and NetEase for further clarification regarding the shutdown of Harry Potter: Magic Awakened and the future of its PC availability through Southeast Asian servers. Updates will follow upon receiving a response.