Once again, Warner wants to put a new Harry Potter game on ice. And once again, it doesn’t work. The players are unhappy and are making it known.
A new online petition is gaining popularity among fans of the Harry Potter universe. This time, it is not about supporting a new project, but about saving an already existing game. If this type of request is not always successful (quite the opposite), sometimes it happens that the studios listen to reason.
The community wants to save this Harry Potter game
Therefore, players are mobilizing to save Harry Potter: The Magic Awakens. The game is in danger of disappearing, but fans aren’t willing to sit idly by. This RPG collectible card game was released in China and Taiwan in 2021 before launching worldwide in June 2023. Despite a loyal and enthusiastic community, the game hasn’t been able to attract enough fans to justify maintaining its servers. Warner Bros. therefore announced the closure of the servers on October 29, 2024, leaving players only a few months to enjoy it before the game disappears.
The announcement of this closure sent a wave of shock through gamers. Many have taken to social media to express their frustration, lamenting not only the closure but also the lack of refunds for in-game purchases. Some are left with virtual currency that will become completely useless after the closure.
To try to save the Harry Potter game, a petition has been started on Change.org. Fans are calling on NetEase Games, co-developers of the game, to reclaim the rights and keep the servers online. In just a few days, the petition has already collected more than 3,395 signatures and the number is growing.
It is not the first time
Despite the enthusiasm of the fans, the prospects for success remain uncertain. The main problem seems to be financial: Harry Potter Awakened Magic simply does not generate enough revenue to justify maintaining its servers. This is a risk inherent in online service games where profitability is crucial. This situation reminds players of the dangers of microtransactions, where the money spent can disappear overnight if the service is shut down.
This is not the first time Harry Potter fans have faced a similar situation. In 2021, Harry Potter: Wizards Uniteanother mobile game, was discontinued after only two years of service.
Source: change.org