It is clear that at Warner, they will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Harry Potter saga does not die. It’s a sign of these times: no intellectual property should reach its natural end and be left there quietly for memory’s sake. After a few years in which J.K. Rowling’s books became more politically positioned than entertaining, it seems that someone has decided that the author’s transphobic opinions are not so important (spoiler: they are) and that it is now time to launch a series on HBO Max, video games, and whatever else they can think of, unlocking our wallets with an “Alohomora.”
Quidditch Gameplay
As proof, the latest from Unbroken Studios is ‘Quidditch Champions,’ a new game based on the famous fictional sport that originated in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,’ with scoring rules that are, generously speaking, erratic. That didn’t stop EA from releasing ‘Quidditch World Cup’ in 2003, which, although it marked the childhood of many, was as entertaining as it was forgettable.
Now, Warner wants to capitalize on the universe it has acquired through its deep pockets and surprise trailers. That’s why it was surprising that leaked gameplay from the closed beta surfaced ahead of time. You see, ‘Quidditch Champions’ will be an online multiplayer game where players can fully customize their characters, choose their positions on the team, and aim to be a FIFA for all of us who would never go near a football but know perfectly well what a Snitch is.
After the success of ‘Hogwarts Legacy,’ it was clear that more of the Wizarding World was on its way, knocking on the door. And it must be acknowledged that what could be seen before the videos were taken down due to copyright issues looked fantastic (figuratively speaking, don’t expect ‘Tears of the Kingdom’ on a flying broomstick). Well, not everyone thinks the same: there are rumors that in the previous game, they removed Quidditch to avoid cannibalizing the results of this one, and some even accuse it of being a mere copy of ‘Rocket League.’ We’ll have to wait to learn more, but to be honest, as impressive as it may look… it seems a bit like a money grab.
It’s possible that if J.K. Rowling knew that Quidditch would become such a big thing, she would have given it a different name or reconsidered its mechanics. But the truth is that the name came about by jotting down different words that started with ‘Q’ on a piece of paper… and not long after, people were founding clubs to play it in real life. Oh! If you want to join one, don’t search for the word “Quidditch” anymore: due to the author’s inflammatory statements, they now call it “Quadball.” And you can’t use Avada Kedavra on the opposing team either: that wouldn’t make for a realistic game experience.
