Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, the AR-game from Pokémon GO developer Niantic, is getting shut down by the end of January, just over two years after the game’s initial launch.
Fans were disappointed to learn the news when it was announced earlier this week. The game will officially be removed from the App Store and Google Play on December 6th before shutting down for good on January 31st, 2022, to allow players to complete the in-game events already in motion.
Wizards Unite allowed players to place themselves in the world of Harry Potter. Upon arriving at Hogwarts, they could choose their wizarding house and set out on adventures to catch creatures and characters based on JK Rowling’s hit book series. The gameplay was largely based on Pokémon GO, requiring real-world exploration in order to complete the collection.
And just like Pokémon GO, Niantic attempted to boost play time in Wizards Unite by organizing Community Days once a month. The intent of these Community Days was to lure players out into the real world to play the game during a set time, and in return, they could gain special power-ups, like unique items and increased XP.
But unlike Pokémon GO where its Community Days are massive events that bring players out of the woodwork, Wizards Unite suffered from a dwindling player base since its launch. Though not official from Niantic, a Venture Beat article reporting the game’s demise noted that, according to industry-tracking firm Sensor Tower, Pokémon Go earned Niantic over $1 billion in revenue this year alone, while Wizards Unite only brought in $40 million. While it is strange to use a phrase like “only $40 million,” when compared to the revenue of the flagship title, it makes sense that Niantic wouldn’t want to devote resources to Wizards Unite.
Harry Potter fans have also speculated as to other reasons why Niantic would shutter the game. It’s possible that Niantic just wants to focus on new ventures, such as the newly launched AR game, Pikmin Bloom. Based on another popular Nintendo franchise, Pikmin Bloom is similar to Pokémon GO in that it lets players collect brightly colored creatures. However, it doesn’t rely on catching and battling but instead growing and planting. (I’ve spent a few days with Pikmin Bloom already and while it’s enjoyable, there doesn’t seem to be much depth to the gameplay.)
Having played both Pokémon GO and Wizards Unite, I can understand why people would choose to leave the Harry Potter game behind. While Pokémon GO’s gameplay mechanics were fairly simple, requiring a simple swipe to throw and catch Pokémon, Wizards Unite required more precision to trace the shapes and cast spells. That mechanic in itself wasn’t conducive to walking, requiring frequent stops and much frustration. And for a game whose intent was to get their players walking, that would be considered a failure.
Despite that, it does come as a surprise that a game like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite wasn’t a bigger hit considering how rabid fans of the IP can be. Nearly anything emblazoned with Harry and the gang is a surefire seller, so to see a mobile game with the power of the team that made Pokémon GO so popular shutting down is quite a shock. Let’s hope that this move allows Niantic to improve on its existing games and future projects.
