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Augmented Reality Game 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' Launches Early on iOS App Store

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Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was planned to debut on the iOS App Store and Google Play tomorrow, June 21, but Niantic has surprise launched the augmented reality game one day early. You can download the app right now on the iOS App Store for free, if you live in the United States or United Kingdom [Direct Link] (via TechCrunch).

Inspired by Pokémon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite tasks players with joining the Statute of Secrecy Task Force to explore iconic Wizarding World locations that have been placed in the real world. This means that to get the most out of the app, you'll have to trek out into the real world to find various magical artefacts, creatures, and other wizards.

harry-potter-wizards-unite.jpg

The story behind the game is that some kind of calamity has hit the Wizarding World, causing certain "Foundables" -- various in-game collectibles like fantastic beasts -- to begin appearing in the muggle world. Because of this event, witches and wizards have formed the Statue of Secrecy Task Force, tasking new recruits with capturing the artefacts and protecting the secret of magic.

Similar to Pokémon Go, real-world locations will be hotspots for various activities in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, allowing players to learn new spells and capture beasts using the AR features of iPhone devices. There are also real-time cooperative elements where you can join friends to battle high-level enemies. Players will be able to choose to specialize in different magical professions, like being an Auror or Magizoologist, to learn unique skills as well.

Head to Niantic's website for the game to learn more, and to the iOS App Store to download it today [Direct Link].

Article Link: Augmented Reality Game 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' Launches Early on iOS App Store
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/06/20/harry-potter-wizards-unite-launches/
I’m struggling to find the appeal in this. I love the HP universe and Pokémon go was fun, but I just can’t get on board with this one so far. The idea of walking around in a HP world is a lot less appealing than a Pokémon one imo
 
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centauratlas said:
You have to create an account with Facebook or Google? No thanks.

Why would you need an account to play a game. Tracking
Click to expand...

Google owns Niantic. Who makes ingress, then pokemon go and finally harry potter wizards unite. So it makes sense you use their login system.
 
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Reactions: CarlJ
I’ve installed and played for 5 min.


The into for a new player is terrible. I’ve no idea who I am or what needs to be done other than some stupid word called “foundables?”

This looks like a bad copy of Pokemon, I’m surprised it’s from a serious developer.
 
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archer75 said:
Google owns Niantic. Who makes ingress, then pokemon go and finally harry potter wizards unite. So it makes sense you use their login system.
Click to expand...
While it started as an internal Google company, it’s now a stand alone company. Yes, Google owns a significant share but so does Nintendo, Pokemon Company and other investors.
 
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KrisLord said:
I’ve installed and played for 5 min.


The into for a new player is terrible. I’ve no idea who I am or what needs to be done other than some stupid word called “foundables?”

This looks like a bad copy of Pokemon, I’m surprised it’s from a serious developer.
Click to expand...

Yep. There is way too much going on with the UI and too many things you can click. I ain’t got no time for such a learning curve to play a game
 
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AppleFan91 said:
I’m struggling to find the appeal in this. I love the HP universe and Pokémon go was fun, but I just can’t get on board with this one so far. The idea of walking around in a HP world is a lot less appealing than a Pokémon one imo
Click to expand...

I’m in the same boat. I think it’s because the immediacy of the Catch/Fight/Evolve Pokemon gameplay takes little explaining and it has a huge Nostalgia factor attached.

Harry Potter doesn’t really have the benefit of any of the above and the game needed too much explaining.
 
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Jeaz said:
While it started as an internal Google company, it’s now a stand alone company. Yes, Google owns a significant share but so does Nintendo, Pokemon Company and other investors.
Click to expand...
But Google is 100% about tracking, why would they cut off a new source of data from day one?

I’m starting to think these AR games are really location data gathering services with the games just being a front.
 
As a Harry Potter fan I think it looks fantastic and I can't wait to explore it more when I have some time. I don't think any moderately experienced gamer or fan of the wizarding world would find the UI overwhelming.
 
DotCom2 said:
OMG!! ONLY Facebook or Google Login allowed. Ummmmm no. JUST NO!
Click to expand...
Niantic started as part of Google, the ability to log in through Facebook was only added about a year ago - Ingress and Pokemon Go both started with Google logins as the only way to sign up (and they're pretty much the only thing my Google account is used for).
 
CarlJ said:
Niantic started as part of Google, the ability to log in through Facebook was only added about a year ago - Ingress and Pokemon Go both started with Google logins as the only way to sign up (and they're pretty much the only thing my Google account is used for).
Click to expand...
You mean, that you know of. ;)
 
MacRumors said:



Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was planned to debut on the iOS App Store and Google Play tomorrow, June 21, but Niantic has surprise launched the augmented reality game one day early. You can download the app right now on the iOS App Store for free, if you live in the United States or United Kingdom [Direct Link] (via TechCrunch).

Inspired by Pokémon Go, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite tasks players with joining the Statute of Secrecy Task Force to explore iconic Wizarding World locations that have been placed in the real world. This means that to get the most out of the app, you'll have to trek out into the real world to find various magical artefacts, creatures, and other wizards.

harry-potter-wizards-unite.jpg

The story behind the game is that some kind of calamity has hit the Wizarding World, causing certain "Foundables" -- various in-game collectibles like fantastic beasts -- to begin appearing in the muggle world. Because of this event, witches and wizards have formed the Statue of Secrecy Task Force, tasking new recruits with capturing the artefacts and protecting the secret of magic.

Similar to Pokémon Go, real-world locations will be hotspots for various activities in Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, allowing players to learn new spells and capture beasts using the AR features of iPhone devices. There are also real-time cooperative elements where you can join friends to battle high-level enemies. Players will be able to choose to specialize in different magical professions, like being an Auror or Magizoologist, to learn unique skills as well.

Head to Niantic's website for the game to learn more, and to the iOS App Store to download it today [Direct Link].

Article Link: Augmented Reality Game 'Harry Potter: Wizards Unite' Launches Early on iOS App Store
Click to expand...

Pokémon go will be the only game I play from these clowns. I’m not even going to download it to check, but is it another city only game?
 
archer75 said:
Google owns Niantic. Who makes ingress, then pokemon go and finally harry potter wizards unite. So it makes sense you use their login system.
Click to expand...

Won’t they be required to offer Apple’s Login option once that launches? Can’t wait!
 
What is with you people and this “tracking”? What do you mean by that? Track what? You’re unimportant, who cares about your location or whatever, it’s just another sales pitch for masses. Never in my life I encountered anything to do with Google or FB “tracking”. Especially FB, if they track me, well, they do hella bad job, they can’t even display ads in the language I'm speaking.
 
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