Summary
Hogwarts Legacymay not have been the most critically acclaimed game of 2023, and it may not even be nominated once for this year’s Game Awards, but it’s still somehow the best-selling game of the year, by quite a wide margin. Within just two weeks of launch,Hogwarts Legacysold over 12 million copies, and at the start of May that number increased to 15 million.Hogwarts Legacy’s saleshave only continued to grow over the course of the year and a huge factor in that is its multiple release waves.
Hogwarts Legacyfirst hit store shelves in February for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Then, back in May, it received a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One port. As of a few weeks ago,Hogwarts Legacyis now fully playable on the Nintendo Switch. It’s genuinely quite impressive to see such a massive AAA game come to so many platforms, but it doesn’t mean that all ports are created equal. There are admittedly much better ways to playHogwarts Legacythan on the Switch, including some other handheld devices.
The Nintendo Switch Isn’t the Best Way to Play Hogwarts Legacy Portably
Hogwarts Legacy Has Some Big Setbacks on Switch
As expected,Hogwarts Legacyhas a number of pretty big drawbacks on the Nintendo Switch. While the game is technically feature-complete and fans can expect pretty much the same experience overall across all ports,Hogwarts Legacy’s Switch versionis definitely inferior to the rest. One of the biggest limitations is that the Nintendo Switch version ofHogwarts Legacyisn’t technically open-world. While all console versions ofHogwarts Legacyallow players to seamlessly enter and exit most areas in the open-world, the Switch version puts a big loading screen between the player and just about every area, including individual shops in Hogsmeade.
It doesn’t help that these loading screens are not only abundant but often painfully long. On top of that,Hogwarts Legacy’s Switch version has a real problem with hitting a consistent framerate.Hogwarts Legacyis already downgraded to just 30fps on Switch, and it’ll drop well below that in densely populated areas. Throw a disappointingly high number of glitches onto the pile andHogwarts Legacy’s Switch port is undeniably the worst way to play the game. The gimmick of it being on a handheld device only carries it so far.
Hogwarts Legacy Is Unabridged and Smooth on a Steam Deck
What makesHogwarts Legacy’s Nintendo Switch port even more redundant is that it isn’t the only way to play the game on a handheld device. Valve’s Steam Deck is essentially a portable gaming PC, packed with some truly remarkable hardware that can run even some of the most technically-impressive contemporary video games. One such game isHogwarts Legacy. Receivinga “Verified” rating on Steam,Hogwarts Legacyruns exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, having been tested thoroughly by Valve itself. PlayingHogwarts Legacyon the Steam Deck is the real deal, and while it can be tough to actually obtain one at the minute, it’s definitely the best way to playHogwarts Legacyin a handheld mode.
The New PlayStation Portal Also Offers the Full Hogwarts Legacy Experience on a Handheld
If a Steam Deck is too expensive, thenHogwarts Legacyfans may want to look into a PlayStation Portal. Just released,the PlayStation Portalallows for seamless remote play to a dedicated device. Due to its nature, the PlayStation Portal’s mileage is going to vary pretty wildly between gamers due to their internet speeds, but if the player’s speed is good enough, the PlayStation Portal should be a great way to playHogwarts Legacyon a handheld device.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
