Hogwarts Legacy is only less than a couple of weeks away, and people are asking the question, “How to play Hogwarts Legacy early?”. Is it even possible to do so? In this article, we’ll answer that question and add a little more info to those still curious about their options.
Can I Play Hogwarts Legacy Early?
So, right off the bat, the answer is simple. Yes, you can play the game before the official launch date. But to do so requires you to buy the Deluxe Edition of the game for current-gen consoles. And with it comes the 72 hours of Early Access.
According to the Hogwarts Legacy FAQ page:
“The Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and PC includes 72 hours of Early Access to the game starting on February 7, 2023.”
Not only that, but they also have a response for those who will be buying the Deluxe Edition on previous-gen consoles.
“To get everyone in the game as early as possible, the Hogwarts Legacy Standard and Deluxe Editions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will launch together on April 4, 2023 without Early Access.”
Hogwarts Legacy Early Access
If you want early access to Hogwarts Legacy you’ll need to pre-order the game’s Digital Deluxe Edition, which is available for $79.99 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store) which will grant 3 days ahead / 72 hours Early Access.
How to Preload Hogwarts Legacy on Xbox Series X|S
The preload process has already started on Xbox consoles as of January 25, 2023. The download sizes are as follows:
- Xbox Series X: 76GB
- Xbox Series S: 50GB
To Preload Hogwarts Legacy on Xbox do the following steps:
- Access the Xbox app on either your phone or PC, and make sure you are logged in to your Xbox account.
- Search for “Hogwarts Legacy” on the search bar.
- Choose the version you want to download, Standard or Deluxe Edition.
- To start downloading the preload content, select the “download to console” option.
This Xbox feature allows it so that you don’t have to purchase the game yet in order to preload the game. But you will not be able to access Hogwarts Legacy until you have formally bought the game. You will have to purchase the game as Hogwarts Legacy is not free on Xbox Game Pass, and if you want to play early, you have to choose the Digital Deluxe Edition.
How to Preload Hogwarts Legacy on PS5
The preload for Hogwarts Legacy on PS5 will start automatically on February 5, 2023, 12:00 midnight of your PlayStation account’s local region time. You just have to simply purchase the game first from the PlayStation Store, and don’t forget to turn on your PS5 on or before the said schedule to initiate the preload for Hogwarts Legacy.
To purchase Hogwarts Legacy on the PlayStation Store, follow these steps:
- On the home screen go to Games, then select PlayStation Store.
- Search for “Hogwarts Legacy” on the search bar.
- To purchase Hogwarts Legacy, select the price to bring up the Editions option.
- Choose the version you want to buy, if you want to play 72 hours early, choose the Digital Deluxe Edition.
- Proceed with the payment, accept the terms, and then select Order & Pay.
- The summary screen will then show that the download will start automatically on February 5, 2023, 12:00MN (local region time).
How to Preload Hogwarts Legacy on PC
Unfortunately, we do not have any details yet from the developers about preloading the game on PC. According to Steam, the game will require 85GB of free space. This is in line with the game’s PC requirements.
We will update this article should that information become available before the launch.
Hogwarts Legacy Release Date & Time For Every Platform
On a final note, let’s have a look at the unlock times for each edition of Hogwarts Legacy on all platforms.
- Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC): 12:00 Midnight, February 10, 2023.
- Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC): 12:00 Midnight, February 07, 2023.
- Collector’s Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC): 12:00 Midnight, February 07, 2023.
For more information on the different collections, including if they’re worth it, check out our Hogwarts Legacy Editions and Pre-Order Bonuses article.
For more answers, check out Hogwarts Legacy’s official FAQ page.
