Portkey Games
{{Short description|Video game label}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Portkey Games
| logo = Portkey Games logo.png
| type = Division
| industry = Video games
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|2017}}
| founders =
| defunct =
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| parent = Warner Bros. Games
| website = {{URL|https://portkeygames.com/}}
}}
Portkey Games is a video game label owned by Warner Bros. Games founded in 2017 and dedicated to creating games of the Wizarding World franchise. In the beginning, the company's primary focus was on publishing mobile games, but in 2023, they diversified by launching Hogwarts Legacy for both PC and consoles.
Overview
Portkey Games was founded in 2017, being committed to producing gaming adventures that are connected to the Wizarding World franchise.{{cite web |last=Shaban |first=Hamza |date=18 January 2018 |title=Harry Potter fans get first look at 'Hogwarts Mystery' mobile game |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/18/harry-potter-fans-get-first-look-at-hogwarts-mystery-mobile-game/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125051915/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/18/harry-potter-fans-get-first-look-at-hogwarts-mystery-mobile-game/ |archive-date=25 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |work=The Washington Post |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |last=Dunsmore |first=Kevin |date=9 November 2017 |title=Warner Bros. Forms Portkey Games to Create Harry Potter Games |url=https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/11/09/warner-bros-forms-portkey-games-to-create-harry-potter-games/278808/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070812/https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/11/09/warner-bros-forms-portkey-games-to-create-harry-potter-games/278808/ |archive-date=26 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |work=Hardcore Gamer |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |author=Macuch, Eddie |date=12 November 2017 |title=There's A New Harry Potter Game Coming To Consoles |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/theres-a-new-harry-potter-game-coming-to-consoles/1100-6454796/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012930/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/theres-a-new-harry-potter-game-coming-to-consoles/1100-6454796/ |archive-date=26 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |publisher=GameSpot |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |last=Dwan |first=Hannah |date=8 November 2017 |title=Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is Pokemon Go developer Niantic's next game |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/harry-potter-wizards-unite-reportedly-pokemon-go-developer-niantics/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128222250/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/harry-potter-wizards-unite-reportedly-pokemon-go-developer-niantics/ |archive-date=28 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |work=The Telegraph |df=dmy-all}} The label announced its first game in 2017,{{cite web |last=Kleffmann |first=Marcel |date=9 November 2017 |title="Portkey Games" gegründet: Konsolen-Spiele im Harry-Potter-Universum |trans-title="Portkey Games" founded: console games in the Harry Potter universe |url=http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/Allgemein/15058/2171443/Warner_Bros_Interactive_Entertainment-Portkey_Games_gegruendet_Konsolen-Spiele_im_Harry-Potter-Universum.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129195550/http://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfonews/Allgemein/15058/2171443/Warner_Bros_Interactive_Entertainment-Portkey_Games_gegruendet_Konsolen-Spiele_im_Harry-Potter-Universum.html |archive-date=29 January 2018 |access-date=29 January 2018 |work=4Players |language=de |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |last=Oloman |first=Jordan |date=9 November 2017 |title=Warner Bros. Sets Up Harry Potter Games Division, Portkey |url=http://ign.com/articles/2017/11/09/warner-bros-sets-up-harry-potter-games-division-portkey |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415145447/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/09/warner-bros-sets-up-harry-potter-games-division-portkey |archive-date=15 April 2023 |access-date=19 January 2018 |publisher=IGN}} working with Pokémon Go creators Niantic to produce a game known as Harry Potter: Wizards Unite.{{cite web |last=Barnett |first=Brian |date=8 November 2017 |title=Update: Pokemon Go Developer Niantic Making a Harry Potter Game |url=http://ign.com/articles/2017/11/08/pokemon-go-developer-niantic-making-a-harry-potter-game |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209145443/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/08/pokemon-go-developer-niantic-making-a-harry-potter-game |archive-date=9 February 2023 |access-date=19 January 2018 |publisher=IGN}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41942466 |title=Pokemon Go makers working on new Harry Potter AR game |publisher=BBC |date=10 November 2017 |access-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320144145/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/41942466 |archive-date=20 March 2018 |df=dmy-all}} The game would feature the same augmented reality as in Pokémon Go{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/08/warner-bros-interactive-conjures-up-portkey-games-to-oversee-harry-potter-license/ |title=Warner Bros. Interactive conjures up Portkey Games to oversee Harry Potter license |last=Grubb |first=Jeff |website=VentureBeat |date=8 November 2017 |access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119175548/https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/08/warner-bros-interactive-conjures-up-portkey-games-to-oversee-harry-potter-license/ |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/11/portkey_games_is_likely_to_bring_harry_potter_to_ps4 |title=Portkey Games Is Likely to Bring Harry Potter to PS4 |last=Croft |first=Liam |website=Push Square |date=9 November 2017 |access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119234949/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2017/11/portkey_games_is_likely_to_bring_harry_potter_to_ps4 |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all}} but use characters from the Harry Potter universe.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/11/warner-bros-establishes-harry-potter-games-label-portkey-games-announces-harry-potter-wizards-unite-smartphones |title=Warner Bros. establishes Harry Potter games label Portkey Games, announces Harry Potter: Wizards Unite for smartphones |last=Romano |first=Sal |website=Gematsu |date=8 November 2017 |access-date=25 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180129110955/https://gematsu.com/2017/11/warner-bros-establishes-harry-potter-games-label-portkey-games-announces-harry-potter-wizards-unite-smartphones |archive-date=29 January 2018 |df=dmy-all}}
Later in 2017, before the release of Wizards Unite,{{cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/new-harry-potter-games/ |title=New Harry Potter Games Could Explore Harry's Life After Hogwarts |last=Cooper |first=Dalton |website=Game Rant |date=2017 |access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119235141/https://gamerant.com/new-harry-potter-games/ |archive-date=19 January 2018 |df=dmy-all}} Portkey Games also announced a second mobile game in development, called Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery.{{cite web |url=https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/18/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-ios/ |title=Portkey Games shares new trailer for second iOS Harry Potter game slated for this year |last=Potuck |first=Michael |work=9to5Mac |date=18 January 2018 |access-date=19 January 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118191538/https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/18/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-ios/ |archive-date=18 January 2018 |df=dmy-all}} Hogwarts Mystery allows users to play as a Hogwarts student and is set before the events of the Harry Potter series. The game was released exclusively for iOS and Android on April 25, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Frank |first1=Allegra |date=18 January 2018 |title=Harry Potter RPG features familiar faces — but not Harry's |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/18/16903508/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-rpg-trailer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118153820/https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/18/16903508/harry-potter-hogwarts-mystery-rpg-trailer |archive-date=18 January 2018 |access-date=18 January 2018 |website=Polygon |df=dmy-all}} Portkey Games then released two more mobile games: Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells in 2020 and Harry Potter: Magic Awakened in 2021. As of October 2022, the four released mobile games accumulated over $1 billion in global revenue.{{Cite web |last=James |first=Chris |last2= |date=2022-10-06 |title=Harry Potter mobile titles hit the magic $1 billion milestone |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/79849/harry-potter-mobile-titles-hit-the-magic-1-billion-milestone/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230820164558/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/79849/harry-potter-mobile-titles-hit-the-magic-1-billion-milestone/ |archive-date=2023-08-20 |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=pocketgamer.biz}}
In 2023, Portkey Games released Hogwarts Legacy, an action role-playing game developed by Avalanche Software. The game is set in the late 1800s and takes place in several Wizarding World locations.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2022-12-14 |title=Hogwarts Legacy gameplay - open world, combat, and Room of Requirement |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/hogwarts-legacy-gameplay-open-world-combat-and-room-of-requirement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116201149/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/hogwarts-legacy-gameplay-open-world-combat-and-room-of-requirement |archive-date=16 January 2023 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2022-11-11 |title=Hogwarts Legacy - extended gameplay showcase |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/11/hogwarts-legacy-extended-gameplay-showcase |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114113913/https://www.gematsu.com/2022/11/hogwarts-legacy-extended-gameplay-showcase |archive-date=14 November 2022 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} Legacy achieved success shortly after its debut, selling 12 million copies and generating $850 million in sales globally within two weeks.{{Cite web |last=Maas |first=Jennifer |date=2023-02-23 |title='Hogwarts Legacy' Earns $850 Million, Sells More Than 12 Million Units in First Two Weeks |url=https://variety.com/2023/gaming/news/hogwarts-legacy-sales-850-million-1235533614/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223205311/https://variety.com/2023/gaming/news/hogwarts-legacy-sales-850-million-1235533614/ |archive-date=23 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2023-02-23 |title=WBD CEO David Zaslav Says Games "Core" To Strategy As ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ Sells 12 Million Units In Two Weeks |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/warner-bros-games-hogwarts-legacy-sells-12-million-units-hits-850-million-sales-since-launch-1235269165/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224182435/https://deadline.com/2023/02/warner-bros-games-hogwarts-legacy-sells-12-million-units-hits-850-million-sales-since-launch-1235269165/ |archive-date=24 February 2023 |access-date=2023-02-25 |website= Deadline |language=en-US}} It also broke company records for Warner Bros. Games in terms of player engagement, reaching 280 million hours played.
Releases
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.portkeygames.com Official website]
{{Harry Potter}}
{{Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment}}
{{Warner Bros.}}
Category:Video game companies established in 2017