Portkey Games

Portkey Games
Company typeDivision
IndustryVideo games
Founded2017; 7 years ago (2017)
ParentWarner Bros. Games
Websiteportkeygames.com

Portkey Games is a video game label owned by Warner Bros. Games founded in 2017 and dedicated to creating gaming experiences related to the Wizarding World. In the beginning, the company's primary focus was on publishing mobile games, but in 2023, they diversified by launching Hogwarts Legacy for both PC and consoles.

Overview

Portkey Games was founded in 2017, being committed to producing gaming adventures that are connected to the Wizarding World.[1][2][3][4] The label announced their first game in 2017,[5][6] working with Pokémon Go creators Niantic to produce a game known as Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.[7][8] The game would feature the same augmented reality as in Pokémon Go[9][10] but use characters from the Harry Potter universe.[11]

Later in 2017, before the release of Wizards Unite,[12] Portkey Games also announced a second mobile game in development, called Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.[13] Hogwarts Mystery allows users to play as a Hogwarts student and is set before the events of the Harry Potter series. The game was released exclusively for iOS and Android on April 25, 2018.[14][3] Portkey Games then released two more mobile games: Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells in 2020 and Harry Potter: Magic Awakened in 2021.[15] As of October 2022, the four released mobile games accumulated over $1 billion in global revenue.[16]

In 2023, Portkey Games released Hogwarts Legacy, an action role-playing game developed by Avalanche Software. The game is set in the late 1800s and takes place in several Wizarding World locations.[17][18] Legacy has achieved success shortly after its debut, selling 12 million copies and generating $850 million in sales globally within two weeks.[19][20] It also broke company records for Warner Bros. Games in terms of player engagement, reaching 280 million hours played.[19]

Releases

Year Title Developer(s) Platform(s) Ref.
2018 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery Jam City Android, iOS [14]
2019 Harry Potter: Wizards Unite Niantic
WB Games San Francisco 		Android, iOS [11]
2020 Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells Zynga Android, iOS, Fire OS, Facebook [15]
2021 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Zen Studio Android, iOS [15]
2023 Hogwarts Legacy Avalanche Software PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch [21]
2024 Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Unbroken Studios PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch [22]

References

  1. ^ Shaban, Hamza (18 January 2018). "Harry Potter fans get first look at 'Hogwarts Mystery' mobile game". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  2. ^ Dunsmore, Kevin (9 November 2017). "Warner Bros. Forms Portkey Games to Create Harry Potter Games". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Macuch, Eddie (12 November 2017). "There's A New Harry Potter Game Coming To Consoles". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  4. ^ Dwan, Hannah (8 November 2017). "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is Pokemon Go developer Niantic's next game". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ Kleffmann, Marcel (9 November 2017). ""Portkey Games" gegründet: Konsolen-Spiele im Harry-Potter-Universum" ["Portkey Games" founded: console games in the Harry Potter universe]. 4Players (in German). Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  6. ^ Oloman, Jordan (9 November 2017). "Warner Bros. Sets Up Harry Potter Games Division, Portkey". IGN. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  7. ^ Barnett, Brian (8 November 2017). "Update: Pokemon Go Developer Niantic Making a Harry Potter Game". IGN. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Pokemon Go makers working on new Harry Potter AR game". BBC. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  9. ^ Grubb, Jeff (8 November 2017). "Warner Bros. Interactive conjures up Portkey Games to oversee Harry Potter license". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  10. ^ Croft, Liam (9 November 2017). "Portkey Games Is Likely to Bring Harry Potter to PS4". Push Square. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b Romano, Sal (8 November 2017). "Warner Bros. establishes Harry Potter games label Portkey Games, announces Harry Potter: Wizards Unite for smartphones". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 29 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  12. ^ Cooper, Dalton (2017). "New Harry Potter Games Could Explore Harry's Life After Hogwarts". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  13. ^ Potuck, Michael (18 January 2018). "Portkey Games shares new trailer for second iOS Harry Potter game slated for this year". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  14. ^ a b Frank, Allegra (18 January 2018). "Harry Potter RPG features familiar faces — but not Harry's". Polygon. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b c Orr, Aaron (23 August 2021). "Harry Potter: Magic Awakened launches in China this September". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  16. ^ James, Chris (6 October 2022). "Harry Potter mobile titles hit the magic $1 billion milestone". pocketgamer.biz. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  17. ^ Romano, Sal (14 December 2022). "Hogwarts Legacy gameplay - open world, combat, and Room of Requirement". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  18. ^ Romano, Sal (11 November 2022). "Hogwarts Legacy - extended gameplay showcase". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 14 November 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  19. ^ a b Maas, Jennifer (23 February 2023). "'Hogwarts Legacy' Earns $850 Million, Sells More Than 12 Million Units in First Two Weeks". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  20. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (23 February 2023). "WBD CEO David Zaslav Says Games "Core" To Strategy As 'Hogwarts Legacy' Sells 12 Million Units In Two Weeks". Deadline. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  21. ^ Ropp, Adrian (16 September 2020). "Hogwarts Legacy – Writing for the Wizarding World in the 1800s". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (17 April 2023). "Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions announced for consoles, PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.