'Harry Potter Go' release date, latest news: Several companies bidding for franchise's game rights?

A screengrab from the fanmade video of the rumored "Harry Potter GO" mobile game app. YouTube/Stargaze Media

"Pokémon GO" has attained massive success to the point where it has become the most played mobile game in years. A "Harry Potter Go" hoax was later posted and spread online, but now, it is hinted that developers and publishers are aiming to take that hoax and turn it into a reality.

According to Game N Guide, companies like Sony, Supercell, and EA Games are all bidding for the game rights of the "Harry Potter" franchise. It should be noted that the rights are currently under author J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. Pictures' control and that Warner Bros. have their own video game department.

Niantic Labs, developers of "Pokémon GO," are also allegedly interested, given that the feedback for the hoax video was quite positive. However, the company has not made any official statements regarding the matter, and it is likely that this is because they are still busy working on "Pokémon GO," implementing new features and updates.

While it has been over five years since the last "Harry Potter" movie, the franchise has seen a resurgence in popularity due to the release of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a spin-off film set several decades before the "Harry Potter" series.

The movie, also penned by Rowling, has already earned success, proving that there is still interest in the franchise. This would indicate that if "Harry Potter Go" did launch sometime soon, then the game would be a success, and fans from the Harry Potter Fan Zone site have even cobbled up a likely list of creatures that would be in the game.

It should be noted that no company, not even Warner Bros. or Niantic Labs, have confirmed that "Harry Potter Go" is even moving forward. Sony, EA Games, and Supercell have yet to officially comment on the rumor that they are bidding for the game rights to develop and publish the game. As it stands, the only "Harry Potter Go" that exists is the one in the fan-made video.

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