- "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" is a new smartphone game from the makers of "Pokémon 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 "Pokémon 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.
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. Pokémon 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:
In "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite" you’ll explore the real world to find traces of magic at special destinations, including inns, greenhouses and fortresses.
Niantic
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.
Magical encounters use 3D graphics and nifty augmented reality effects to project each scenario onto your surroundings. Every successful encounter gets logged in your registry, granting rewards.
Niantic
Some encounters will have you aid magical creatures, like this Demiguise from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – kwebb@businessinsider.com (Kevin Webb)