Hogwarts Legacy will be released in Holiday 2022.

Two years after it was first revealed to the world, Avalanche Software announced Hogwarts Legacy will be released this holiday.

Before the release window, Avalanche showed off nearly 20 minutes of gameplay that included all the various activities players can partake in their life as a wizarding student at Hogwarts. This includes taking magic classes, wizard duals, raising magical creatures, and more.

Hogwarts Legacy was announced in 2020 and was set to be released in 2021 before being delayed to 2022. The holiday release window is slightly more concrete than that so folks hoping to hop a train to Hogwarts will have to wait until the tail-end of the year.

Today's State of Play was almost exclusively geared towards showing off the various activities players can do at Hogwarts and it's quite a bit. From being sorted to your own house and studying as a fifth-year wizarding student, Hogwarts Legacy truly seems to be a chance for players to live their life as a wizard student.

As for plot details, those remain under-wraps. Players will join in as fifth-year students in the late 1800s. Players can also fully create their own characters, so there's no set protagonist to inhabit. Check out our full rundown of Hogwarts Legacy gameplay details here.

The game has stirred up discussion over its connection to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has become notable in recent years for her transphobic comments. Warner Bros. has said the author is not directly involved with the game, but leadership has said "she's entitled to express her personal opinion". Reports have since suggested that the game will allow for transgender characters to be created.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Avalanche Software lifted the veil on Hogwarts Legacy. During a special State of Play, the 20-minute show was dedicated to showing off new gameplay and plot details.

As seen in today's State of Play, Hogwarts Legacy will let players live their full wizarding life as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts. That includes a wizard duel with another classmate, brewing potions in class, flying on a broomstick, and exploring the school's campus in your free time.

Avalanche Software also shared some plot details for Hogwarts Legacy, where the player is tasked with investigating a rumored-goblin rebellion led by a goblin named Ranrok. Further noting there was an "uneasy alliance" between the goblins and dark wizards.

As previously confirmed when the game was announced back in 2020, Hogwarts Legacy is set in the late 1800s. Avalanche Software notes in the latest PlayStation Blog that the decision to set it in this time period was to "ensure your legend is never overshadowed by any other hero." Though the developer assured fans of the Wizarding World that the gameplay will be "familiar to everything you loved about the Harry Potter series."

Today's broadcast also detailed new gameplay mechanics and features included in Hogwarts Legacy, including a Talent system, in which you can upgrade specific skills such as stealth or your ability to efficiently use abilities you learn when you are in the Room of Requirement.

The game has stirred up discussion over its connection to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has become notable for her transphobic comments in recent years. Warner Bros. has said the author is not directly involved with the game, but leadership has said "she's entitled to express her personal opinion". Reports have since suggested that the game will allow for transgender characters to be created.

Hogwarts Legacy is slated to launch this holiday.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Avalanche Software lifted the veil on Hogwarts Legacy. During a special State of Play, the 20-minute show was dedicated to showing off new gameplay and plot details.

As seen in today's State of Play, Hogwarts Legacy will let players live their full wizarding life as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts. That includes a wizard duel with another classmate, brewing potions in class, flying on a broomstick, and exploring the school's campus in your free time.

Avalanche Software also shared some plot details for Hogwarts Legacy, where the player is tasked with investigating a rumored-goblin rebellion led by a goblin named Ranrok. Further noting there was an "uneasy alliance" between the goblins and dark wizards.

As previously confirmed when the game was announced back in 2020, Hogwarts Legacy is set in the late 1800s. Avalanche Software notes in the latest PlayStation Blog that the decision to set it in this time period was to "ensure your legend is never overshadowed by any other hero." Though the developer assured fans of the Wizarding World that the gameplay will be "familiar to everything you loved about the Harry Potter series."

Today's broadcast also detailed new gameplay mechanics and features included in Hogwarts Legacy, including a Talent system, in which you can upgrade specific skills such as stealth or your ability to efficiently use abilities you learn when you are in the Room of Requirement.

The game has stirred up discussion over its connection to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, who has become notable for her transphobic comments in recent years. Warner Bros. has said the author is not directly involved with the game, but leadership has said "she's entitled to express her personal opinion". Reports have since suggested that the game will allow for transgender characters to be created.

Hogwarts Legacy is slated to launch this holiday.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Comic book movies just continue to dominate the box office, as Matt Reeves' The Batman becomes the latest movie to report huge revenue numbers.

The Batman has already reached $505.8 million at the global box office, making it the fourth highest-grossing film in the pandemic era. The lion's share of revenue is from North American theaters, where the movie has made $258.3 million, with the rest coming from overseas. And, the movie has yet to open in some markets, including China.

The film has topped each of the last two domestic weekend box office charts, only seeing a 41% decline from opening weekend to week two. Domestically, it is the second-highest grossing film of the pandemic era, only behind the massive performance of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The financial success matches up with the movie's quality. We awarded The Batman a 10/10 in our review, saying, "The Batman is a gripping, gorgeous, and, at times, genuinely scary psychological crime thriller that gives Bruce Wayne the grounded detective story he deserves." And, on our latest ranking of the Batman movies, The Batman came in at #2, just behind The Dark Knight.

If you're hooked on The Batman, check out which movies you should watch after seeing The Batman. And, check out how Nicolas Cage wants to fit into Robert Pattinson's Batman universe.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

Comic book movies just continue to dominate the box office, as Matt Reeves' The Batman becomes the latest movie to report huge revenue numbers.

The Batman has already reached $505.8 million at the global box office, making it the fourth highest-grossing film in the pandemic era. The lion's share of revenue is from North American theaters, where the movie has made $258.3 million, with the rest coming from overseas. And, the movie has yet to open in some markets, including China.

The film has topped each of the last two domestic weekend box office charts, only seeing a 41% decline from opening weekend to week two. Domestically, it is the second-highest grossing film of the pandemic era, only behind the massive performance of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

The financial success matches up with the movie's quality. We awarded The Batman a 10/10 in our review, saying, "The Batman is a gripping, gorgeous, and, at times, genuinely scary psychological crime thriller that gives Bruce Wayne the grounded detective story he deserves." And, on our latest ranking of the Batman movies, The Batman came in at #2, just behind The Dark Knight.

If you're hooked on The Batman, check out which movies you should watch after seeing The Batman. And, check out how Nicolas Cage wants to fit into Robert Pattinson's Batman universe.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

He may be a creature of the night, but it turns out that Morbius was inspired by Pokémon.

During an interview with IGN, director Daniel Espinosa revealed that he found inspiration for his take on the living vampire in an unlikely place – Pokémon.

“I have a daughter who is six years old, and she was really getting into Pokémon,” he explained. “And you know, I’ve watched Pokémon over the years. But I really adore how they use light and colors to express those powers.”

“When you watch Morbius he always has this trail of purple in the comic books and that normally is just lines that are made with a pencil,” he added. “But I thought maybe if we can take that kind of Pokémon-esque idea and translate that over to the psychedelic experience, I could create a new version of how to express powers.”

You can certainly see glimpses of this in the recent Morbius trailer. However, it’s even more evident when it comes to the film’s action scenes. Here, the distinctive flash of purple highlights Morbius as he careens through the night sky above New York City.

A scene from another trailer of Morbius flying through a subway tunnel with the distinctive orange trail of a prison jumpsuit adds a flash of color to his enveloping, smokey visage. The only thing missing is a pokéball opening behind him.

It’s certainly a very distinctive look, and a unique way to envisage the living vampire’s powers from the comic books. Along with Morbius’ beast-like fighting style, the Pokémon parallels are obvious.

“The fighting style of Morbius is very predatory and beast-like,” said stunt double, Greg Townley “The way he moves sometimes is catlike, wild, and quite feral in the moment. He's not comfortable in his own body, because he is used to being quite frail, not being able to do these things. Now he's got this overwhelming power, which he doesn't know how to control. He doesn't know how to deal with it yet.”

Check out our guide to Morbius to find out more about the living vampire, and why not take a look at some of the Morbius easter eggs we’ve seen in the trailers so far.

Morbius stars Jared Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius alongside Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyres Gibson.

Daniel Espinosa directed the film based on a screenplay by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

He may be a creature of the night, but it turns out that Morbius was inspired by Pokémon.

During an interview with IGN, director Daniel Espinosa revealed that he found inspiration for his take on the living vampire in an unlikely place – Pokémon.

“I have a daughter who is six years old, and she was really getting into Pokémon,” he explained. “And you know, I’ve watched Pokémon over the years. But I really adore how they use light and colors to express those powers.”

“When you watch Morbius he always has this trail of purple in the comic books and that normally is just lines that are made with a pencil,” he added. “But I thought maybe if we can take that kind of Pokémon-esque idea and translate that over to the psychedelic experience, I could create a new version of how to express powers.”

You can certainly see glimpses of this in the recent Morbius trailer. However, it’s even more evident when it comes to the film’s action scenes. Here, the distinctive flash of purple highlights Morbius as he careens through the night sky above New York City.

A scene from another trailer of Morbius flying through a subway tunnel with the distinctive orange trail of a prison jumpsuit adds a flash of color to his enveloping, smokey visage. The only thing missing is a pokéball opening behind him.

It’s certainly a very distinctive look, and a unique way to envisage the living vampire’s powers from the comic books. Along with Morbius’ beast-like fighting style, the Pokémon parallels are obvious.

“The fighting style of Morbius is very predatory and beast-like,” said stunt double, Greg Townley “The way he moves sometimes is catlike, wild, and quite feral in the moment. He's not comfortable in his own body, because he is used to being quite frail, not being able to do these things. Now he's got this overwhelming power, which he doesn't know how to control. He doesn't know how to deal with it yet.”

Check out our guide to Morbius to find out more about the living vampire, and why not take a look at some of the Morbius easter eggs we’ve seen in the trailers so far.

Morbius stars Jared Leto as Dr. Michael Morbius alongside Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyres Gibson.

Daniel Espinosa directed the film based on a screenplay by Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Eight new courses are releasing in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe today, part of the paid DLC called the Booster Course Pass that was announced during last month's Nintendo Direct.

The Booster Course Pass costs $24.99 as a standalone purchase, but Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers will get it as part of their premium membership. The 48 courses aren't all coming out at once, though. Instead, Nintendo is dropping them in six waves.

The first eight courses comprising Wave 1 have been revealed on Nintendo's official website. They include the following

• Paris Promenade (Mario Kart Tour)
• Toad Circuit (Mario Kart 3DS)
• Choco Mountain (Mario Kart 64)
• Coconut Mall (Mario Kart Wii)
• Tokyo Blur (Mario Kart Tour)
• Shroom Ridge (Mario Kart DS)
• Sky Garden (Mario Kart Advance)
• Ninja Hideaway (Mario Kart Tour)

Eight courses are planned to be released in each wave, all of which will be delivered to Booster Course Pass owners by the end of 2023. The first wave, available today at around 7pm ET in North America, includes courses like Wii's Coconut Mall, N64's Choco Mountain, and Tour's Tokyo Blur.

Mario Kart 8 was named the best-selling racing game in US history in April 2021. The combined sales of the original Wii U Mario Kart 8 and Nintendo Switch's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe pushed the game past the previous record holder, Mario Kart Wii. Recent reports suggest Mario Kart 9 is in "active development," though for now it seems Nintendo is still focused on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Miranda Sanchez is the executive editor of guides at IGN and a member of Podcast Unlocked. She's a big fan of stationery and fountain pens. You can sometimes find her on Twitter.

A Daredevil reboot is reportedly set to enter production, and will apparently be a Disney+ MCU series.

The latest issue of Production Weekly – which provides listings of pre-production or in-production projects for film professionals – includes a section for a show simply referred to as 'Daredevil Reboot'.

The show is listed as a Disney+ series currently in development, with head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige, and Chris Gary (Marvel's Behind the Mask) mentioned as producers. No timing is given for when the show would begin production, however, nor which actors would be involved.

The listing also includes a synopsis for the show, but this appears to be based on descriptions of the original Daredevil Netflix series.

We already knew that Charlie Cox will be returning to play Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the MCU, but it hasn't been clear in what kind of project the character would appear

One major question is what kind of reboot this would be, should it become a finished project. Matt Murdock's cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home didn't give much away, but did show a character who looked and acted extremely similarly to the Daredevil we saw on Netflix.

With that in mind, this could be more of a reboot in the sense of firmly tying the show into the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, with the multiverse now firmly in play, it's possible this could be a more drastic reboot, altering the character's backstory in some way.

Separately, it feels as though there's a strong possibility the character will appear in the Echo spin-off series, which will focus on Alaqua Cox's take on the deaf superhero and, seemingly, her relationship to longtime Daredevil nemesis Kingpin.

Daredevil has been huge request from MCU fans since the Netflix shows were cancelled, and Disney hasn't just added the original series to its streaming service, but promised there's more Daredevil to come. Charlie Cox would prefer for the character's projects to remain R-rated, and the fact that Disney hasn't censored any of the Netflix shows is a good early sign.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

A Daredevil reboot is reportedly set to enter production, and will apparently be a Disney+ MCU series.

The latest issue of Production Weekly – which provides listings of pre-production or in-production projects for film professionals – includes a section for a show simply referred to as 'Daredevil Reboot'.

The show is listed as a Disney+ series currently in development, with head of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige, and Chris Gary (Marvel's Behind the Mask) mentioned as producers. No timing is given for when the show would begin production, however, nor which actors would be involved.

The listing also includes a synopsis for the show, but this appears to be based on descriptions of the original Daredevil Netflix series.

We already knew that Charlie Cox will be returning to play Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the MCU, but it hasn't been clear in what kind of project the character would appear

One major question is what kind of reboot this would be, should it become a finished project. Matt Murdock's cameo appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home didn't give much away, but did show a character who looked and acted extremely similarly to the Daredevil we saw on Netflix.

With that in mind, this could be more of a reboot in the sense of firmly tying the show into the current Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, with the multiverse now firmly in play, it's possible this could be a more drastic reboot, altering the character's backstory in some way.

Separately, it feels as though there's a strong possibility the character will appear in the Echo spin-off series, which will focus on Alaqua Cox's take on the deaf superhero and, seemingly, her relationship to longtime Daredevil nemesis Kingpin.

Daredevil has been huge request from MCU fans since the Netflix shows were cancelled, and Disney hasn't just added the original series to its streaming service, but promised there's more Daredevil to come. Charlie Cox would prefer for the character's projects to remain R-rated, and the fact that Disney hasn't censored any of the Netflix shows is a good early sign.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.