Over the past two decades Harry Potter fans have been eager to step into the Wizarding World via a RPG-style video game, and it looks like our patience is about to be rewarded!

Update (March 11, 2020): You may remember that a leaked video posted to YouTube on October 1, 2018 depicted a trailer for an open world Harry Potter RPG set in the 19th century. Even though this video is low-quality, you can tell that the game is beautiful and very detailed. Creatures from the Fantastic Beasts films appear to be a big part of the story. Refreshingly, this does not look like a game for kids.

Note: The only version of the leaked video currently available does not include everything that leaked in 2018, but it’ll still give you a sense of what we’re in for:

News about this game has been non-existent since the leak, but on Wednesday, March 11, E3 announced that they were canceling this year’s event in light of Coronavirus fears. In an article on Kotaku about the cancelation, it’s reported that Warner Brothers was expected to finally unveil this new Harry Potter game, as well as a new Batman game.

Now that E3 is off, Warner Brothers will presumably hold their own (presumably live-streamed) event at sometime this year to announce these games. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that the game will be released this year, we will at least get some long-awaited details, and confirmation that this game is actually happening.

Original Story (October 2018): The above video was pulled down on multiple occasions following a copyright infringement claim by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, further suggesting that the video is legit. The YouTube video was accompanied by a description of the game, which we’re sharing below. The description appears to have been hastily ripped from another source, so this description might not be perfect. For example, there’s a word spelled “pottant” that might not be accurate (perhaps they meant potent?).

Set in the 19th Century (1800’s) Wizarding World, this 3rd person open-world action RPG game centers around your character with unique abilities who has earned a late acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You are a newly arrived 5th year student to Hogwarts that demonstrates a latent gift for magic with a unique ability to track and identify remnants of a pottant ancient power.

Upon arrival, strange events begin to materialize in the Forbidden Forest and trouble begins to brew within the castle walls. Together with Professor Elezar Fig, you embark on a journey through both familiar and never before seen locations to bring to light the truth behind these mysterious occurrences.

On your quest you will craft potions, master new spells, and discover fantastical beasts. You will battle Dark Wizards, Goblins, and other supernatural enemies and uncover the truth about your destiny – the fate of the Wizarding World lies in your hands.

FEATURES
– Journey to Hogwarts to become one of 8 different Wizard types
– Experience Hogwarts, make new friends, uncover new secrets, and change the fate of the Wizarding World
– Experience a new magic system that creates countless possibilities to master magic
– Freely explore the Wizarding World for the first time
– Choose your house and friends at Hogwarts, and decide to pursue a path of good or evil
– Create your own witch or wizard, and experience an all new story separate from the books or films

Interestingly, the YouTube description says that your character comes to Hogwarts late — they join in their Fifth Year. Your character has “a latent gift for magic with a unique ability to track and identify remnants of a pottant ancient power.”

The YouTube description goes on to say that you can choose of a path of good or evil. The game also employs a “new magic system that creates countless possibilities to master magic.”

If this is real, the game is certainly under development at Portkey Games, the official Harry Potter video game group that was launched in 2017. The label has launched a small number of games over the past couple years, including Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.

At the time of the leak, a BBC reporter confirmed the game’s development and shared two possible titles. Since this tweet, the “Magic Awakened” title has ended up being used for a digital card game.

Since a trailer seems to already exist, let’s hope that an official announcement isn’t too far off.