Hogwarts Legacy has been one of the more anticipated video game releases coming to the marketplace this year. Fans can’t wait to dive into this magical world crafted from the Harry Potter books and films. However, if you’re playing on the PC platform, it might be a slightly longer wait to enjoy this game. Those hopeful that a pre-load feature will be available for the PC platform are out of luck. A new report showcases that players on the PC will be downloading the game at launch rather than getting a locked-down version ahead of time.

This is not the news most PC gamers likely want to hear. If you planned on playing Hogwarts Legacy at launch, then a pre-load feature would have been extremely helpful. If you’re unfamiliar with what pre-loading does, it essentially allows players to download the game ahead of time. Now you can’t actually load the game up and start playing. Instead, it’s locked until the launch day actually arrives. Some video games offer a pre-load a few days before the launch, allowing you to get through the download and start enjoying the game right when it becomes available. But that won’t be the case for Hogwarts Legacy.

A support message has surfaced online where a question was submitted to WB Games Support. Seeking out a date when players can pre-load Hogwarts Legacy, the support staff confirmed that there wouldn’t be one. That’s specifically stated for the Steam and Epic Games Store digital marketplace. Instead, there is a way for players to get access to the game ahead of time. The support message stated that those who have a Digital Deluxe Edition or the Physical Collector’s Edition would have early access. This means that they can gain access to the game on February 7, 2023.

But again, there’s no pre-load for that either. So either way, whether you gain early access to the title or plan on picking up a standard edition, both will download the day they are available. So we’re certainly hopeful the internet speeds are working in your favor during those days. As for when the full launch of Hogwarts Legacy will be available, the game is set to release on February 10, 2023, for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. Meanwhile, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch platforms will receive the game later on in the year.

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