Hogwarts Legacy just joined one of gaming’s most exclusive clubs. Warner Bros. Games announced on December 17, 2025, that the Harry Potter action RPG has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, cementing its position as one of the best-selling games of all time. This milestone arrives less than three years after launch, making it one of the fastest-selling single titles in modern gaming history and proving that single-player story-driven experiences can still compete commercially with live service juggernauts.
Outselling Entire Franchises
The single Hogwarts Legacy title has now outsold some entire video game franchises that have been on the market for decades. The Harry Potter RPG moved more copies than the complete Yakuza and Like a Dragon series, every Kingdom Hearts game combined, all Devil May Cry titles, and even Sony’s Horizon franchise including both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. That’s a staggering achievement for a game that launched just in February 2023, demonstrating the enduring power of the Harry Potter brand combined with competent game design.
The sales progression tells the story of sustained success rather than a brief phenomenon. The game hit 12 million copies in its first two weeks and generated $850 million in revenue during that initial period. By May 2023, sales reached 15 million with over $1 billion in retail sales. January 2024 saw the game cross 22 million, then 30 million by November 2024. The jump from 30 million to 40 million in just over a month suggests the holiday 2025 season brought massive new players, likely driven by discounts and the recent Switch 2 release.
Breaking Call of Duty’s Dominance
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment happened in 2023 when Hogwarts Legacy became the best-selling game of the year in the United States, breaking Call of Duty’s stranglehold on that position. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment president David Haddad emphasized that the top spot typically goes to sequel installments from established franchises. Seeing a new IP based on an existing universe beat annual powerhouses like Call of Duty, FIFA, and Madden represented a seismic shift in gaming sales patterns.
Globally, Hogwarts Legacy likely also topped 2023 charts, though its closest rival The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom sold over 21 million copies as of September 2024. Either way, the Harry Potter game became the biggest new release of 2023 by a comfortable margin. This success came despite controversy surrounding Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling’s statements on transgender issues, which led to boycott campaigns that ultimately had minimal impact on sales.
What Players Did in the Game
Warner Bros. shared fascinating statistics about player behavior inside the wizarding world. Collectively, players have spent 707 million hours in the game, brewed 819 million potions, harvested 1.3 billion magical plants, rescued 593 million magical beasts, and defeated 4.9 billion dark wizards. Haddad noted that many players completed the game multiple times, suggesting the single-player experience offered enough replay value to keep people engaged beyond the initial playthrough.
Why It Succeeded
Hogwarts Legacy tapped into decades of pent-up demand for a proper AAA Harry Potter game. Previous Harry Potter games ranged from mediocre licensed tie-ins to the movie releases to mobile gacha titles. Fans wanted an open-world RPG where they could attend Hogwarts, learn spells, explore the grounds, and create their own student character. Avalanche Software finally delivered that experience with competent execution across gameplay, visuals, and world-building.
The game let players be themselves in the wizarding world rather than playing as Harry Potter. Character customization extended beyond appearance to house selection, wand choices, playstyle preferences, and moral decisions. This player-centric approach resonated far more effectively than forcing everyone through Harry’s predetermined story. Players could finally answer the question they’d been asking since reading the books: What house would I be in, and what kind of wizard would I become?
The Sequel Is Coming
With 40 million sales and over $1 billion in revenue, a sequel was inevitable. Warner Bros. confirmed Hogwarts Legacy 2 is now a very big priority for the company. David Haddad indicated the next game could incorporate big-picture storytelling elements that will be part of HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter television series, potentially creating a connected universe across gaming and streaming media.
The sequel faces high expectations after the original’s success. Players will expect larger scope, more refined systems, deeper RPG mechanics, and potentially multiplayer components. Whether Avalanche Software can deliver remains uncertain given that sequels rarely match the cultural impact of breakout originals. However, with established systems and a proven formula, they have a strong foundation to build upon.
Warner Bros. Gaming Strategy
Hogwarts Legacy’s success fundamentally changed Warner Bros. approach to gaming. The company restructured its gaming division into three sections based on what it considers its four most important properties: Batman, Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones. This franchise-focused strategy means we can expect more Harry Potter games beyond just the sequel, potentially including the Quidditch game currently in beta and other spin-offs exploring different aspects of the wizarding world.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav spoke about gaming in terms usually reserved for metaverse pitches, suggesting future games could become spaces where people hang out in franchise worlds beyond just playing through stories. He compared it to how a Superman movie might lead to economics from people spending time in a Superman universe rather than just watching the film. Whether this vision materializes or represents typical executive buzzword salad remains to be seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many copies has Hogwarts Legacy sold?
Over 40 million copies worldwide as of December 2025, making it one of the best-selling games of all time and the fastest-selling Harry Potter game ever released.
When did Hogwarts Legacy release?
The game launched on February 10, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions followed in May 2023, Switch in November 2023, and Switch 2 in June 2025.
Is Hogwarts Legacy single-player only?
Yes, the game is entirely single-player with no multiplayer components. Players experience the story and explore Hogwarts alone without online features beyond leaderboards.
Will there be a Hogwarts Legacy 2?
Yes. Warner Bros. confirmed a sequel is in active development and is now a very big priority for the company following the original game’s massive commercial success.
Does J.K. Rowling profit from Hogwarts Legacy sales?
Likely yes, though exact royalty arrangements haven’t been publicly disclosed. As the creator of Harry Potter and owner of intellectual property rights, she presumably receives licensing fees from Warner Bros. for using the franchise.
What platforms is Hogwarts Legacy available on?
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
How long is Hogwarts Legacy?
The main story takes approximately 25 to 35 hours depending on playstyle. Completionists pursuing all side content and collectibles can spend 60 to 80 hours or more.
Is Hogwarts Legacy canon to Harry Potter books?
The game exists in the same universe but takes place in the 1890s, long before Harry Potter’s time. It’s considered part of the wizarding world but doesn’t directly connect to book or movie continuity.
The Power of Established IP
Hogwarts Legacy proves that established intellectual properties still dominate gaming when executed properly. The Harry Potter franchise brought built-in audiences spanning multiple generations, from people who read the original books in the 1990s to kids discovering the series through movies and Fantastic Beasts. This multi-generational appeal created an enormous potential customer base that Avalanche Software successfully converted into actual sales. The lesson for publishers seems clear: invest in beloved franchises with proper development budgets and reasonable timelines rather than rushing licensed cash grabs to market. Warner Bros. gave Avalanche the time and resources necessary to create a quality product, and the investment paid off spectacularly with one of the fastest-selling games ever made. Whether the sequel can match or exceed these numbers depends on avoiding common sequel pitfalls like feature bloat and losing sight of what made the original special. For now, Hogwarts Legacy stands as one of gaming’s biggest success stories and proof that single-player adventures still have massive commercial appeal when built around properties people genuinely love.