When does the Hogwarts Legacy early access period begin?

February 7 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X

Hogwarts Legacy is one of many AAA games with a confusing rollout, due in part to early access periods and full-on platform delays for select systems. Here’s a full breakdown of when the game will actually come out: in parts.

How to play Hogwarts Legacy early access on February 7th, 2023

Like a heap of EA games, Hogwarts Legacy will be providing an early access period of sorts (three days early) before the official launch on February 7, 2023.

To play the game three days early, you’ll need to pay up for the Deluxe or Collector’s Editions of the game. One of the several bonuses those editions include is the aforementioned 72 hour early access period, in addition to several other digital bonuses.

The Deluxe Edition of the game is $70, and includes the following extras beyond early access:

• Thestral Mount
• Dark Arts Battle Arena
• Dark Arts Cosmetic Set
• Dark Arts Garrison Hat

Note that the Collector’s Edition of the game will also provide early access, serving as a “plussed up” Deluxe Edition, so to speak. It includes everything the Deluxe Edition covers, as well as a Steel Case, Collector’s Edition box, and a life-size floating wand (with a book base).

The wide release of Hogwarts Legacy is February 10 (or later)

By proxy, “three days of early access” will put the proper release at February 10. As a reminder, Hogwarts Legacy will be out on February 10 on the core launch platforms of PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Note that the game has been delayed on several platforms, which has led to a later launch date of April 4 on PS4 and Xbox One (previous-gen), as well as a much-later arrival of July 25 for the Switch edition. Hopefully all of the inevitable bugs are worked out of those versions by then.