When is Hogwarts Legacy set? Harry Potter timeline explained

Hogwarts Legacy is set to release on Xbox One and PS4, but fans of the franchise are wondering when the game takes place. Here’s everything you need to know about when Hogwarts Legacy is set within the Harry Potter timeline.

Harry Potter fans will be able to live out their ultimate fantasy when Hogwarts Legacy arrives on Xbox One and PS4 on May 5. Players have lots to do from learning spells, attending the iconic school of witchcraft and wizardry, picking their house, and exploring the open-world RPG.

Despite the controversy surrounding the author of the books, Hogwarts Legacy has received plenty of praise and applause for its creation which allows players to indulge in a world that we could only dream of. But those looking to enter the Wizarding World might be wondering when the game’s story takes place compared to the existing films and books.

Here’s a breakdown of when Hogwarts Legacy is set in relation to Harry Potter and other works in the same universe.

When does Hogwarts Legacy take place?

The story of Hogwarts Legacy begins in 1890, a full 100 years before the events of J.K Rowling’s original book and this means that players do not bump into the likes of Harry and Hermoine around the school grounds.

Hogwarts Legacy is set a full century before the iconic characters from the franchise entered the Great Hall. But there are other classic characters that you meet throughout the course of the game.

So far, the furthest we have gone back in time is through the movies that have taken us to the early 1920s such as the Fantastic Beasts series, but Portkey Game‘s story is still three decades before Newt Scamander emerged as a hero.

However, that doesn’t mean that characters from those films will appear in Hogwarts Legacy, but since their timelines are closer, players can take care of beasts in the Vivarium which is similar to what Newt did in the movies.

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For more on Hogwarts Legacy, check out our other guides:

Every classic Harry Potter character in Hogwarts Legacy | Can you play Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy? | Does Hogwarts Legacy have multiplayer or co-op? | All Hogwarts Legacy PlayStation-exclusive content: Hogsmeade Shop Quest & cosmetics | Hogwarts Legacy Vivarium explained: How to access special location | Hogwarts Legacy PC requirements: Minimum specs & size | All Hogwarts Legacy spells: Every confirmed Harry Potter charm & curse | How to access the Dark Arts Battle Arena in Hogwarts Legacy | Does Hogwarts Legacy have multiplayer or co-op? | Hogwarts Legacy Trophies & Achievements list: Xbox, PlayStation & PC | Hogwarts Legacy PC requirements: Minimum specs & size | Will Hogwarts Legacy have microtransactions?

Image Credits: Avalanche Software / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment