Hogwarts Legacy players can go 'as Dark as they like', says developer

The fact that players can use the Unforgivable Curses in Hogwarts Legacy continues to baffle me, to be honest. There’s something a bit strange about the fact that literal children can go round blasting things with Avada Kedavra as much as they please, but it’s a feature that many players are excited to get their hands on.

Well, if they’re willing to pay for the DLC, anyway. It turns out that unlimited access to Avada Kevada, Crucio and Imperio is locked behind the doors of the Dark Arts Battle Arena - this add-on content is included in the Deluxe and Collector’s Edition of the game. There’s a price to pay for being an evil wizard, I guess.

Take a look at the Dark Arts trailer for Hogwarts Legacy below.

Once players do turn to the dark side, there’s no morality system in place to judge them their actions. In fact, in a new email interview with GAMINGbible, narrative director and advanced game writer Moira Squier teased that there’s no limit to how evil players can be - although there will be some consequences.

"Players can really go as Dark as they’d like – within gameplay reason. For example, you cannot wander the halls of Hogwarts and destroy everyone you see,” Squier said. “But if the player chooses to learn the Unforgivable Curses – and then also chooses to use them – characters will notice and react accordingly. Such behaviour will colour their perception of the player.

“As for consequences, let’s just say that the choices the player makes with regard to Dark Magic earlier in the game will impact the choices available to them later in the game. As in life, choices have consequences.”

One month in, Hogwarts Legacy remains Amazon’s best-selling PS5 game of 2023. Whether it manages to sustain that for the full year is another matter - some gamers are boycotting the title so as not to support J.K. Rowling, who has been criticised for making harmful comments about the transgender community.

Those who've preordered either the Deluxe or Collector's Edition on PS5, Xbox Series X/S or PC will be able to play three days earlier than everyone else (from 7 February) thanks to the 72-hour early-access bonus.