Warner Bros, Niantic are crafting a Harry Potter: Wizards Unite mobile AR game

In a somewhat unexpected announcement, Niantic and Warner Bros. are teaming up for a Pokemon Go-style Harry Potter augmented reality mobile game which is possibly slated to be released in 2018.

Titled Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, Niantic and WB Games San Francisco are hard at work on bringing the world of Harry Potter to iOS and Android devices.  So far, the experience sounds remarkably similar to what Niantic did with Pokemon, except with magic, artifacts and the ability to team up with other wizards and capture powerful beasts.

See the announcement below, and check out the official site here.

Niantic, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced the development of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, an augmented reality (AR) mobile game inspired by J.K. Rowling?s Wizarding World. Published by Niantic and co-developed by Niantic and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, under the Portkey Games label, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will use state-of-the-art augmented reality mobile technology to put magic in the hands of aspiring wizards and witches worldwide.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will reveal that magic is all around us, and allow players to be a part of Harry Potter’s rich world, through Niantic?s AR + real-world mobile game platform and the franchise expertise of WB Games San Francisco?s development and publishing team. By exploring real-world neighborhoods and cities across the globe, players will go on adventures, learn and cast spells, discover mysterious artifacts, and encounter legendary beasts and iconic characters.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is part of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment?s Portkey Games, a new games label dedicated to creating video game and mobile experiences inspired by J.K. Rowling?s Wizarding World.

?At Niantic, our goal is to leverage technology to create real world experiences that help people to discover the wonderful, and often magical parts of the world around them,? said John Hanke, founder and CEO of Niantic, Inc. ?The beloved Harry Potter stories have captured imaginations worldwide for more than 20 years and soon we?ll turn the fantasy into augmented reality, allowing fans and their friends to become wizards and witches.?

?With this game, we are allowing the passionate, worldwide fan base to experience J.K. Rowling?s deeply powerful and imaginative universe in a new, truly immersive way,? said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. ?It is wonderful to have Niantic?s remarkable augmented reality expertise as we develop this incredibly rich wizarding world for players to explore in their everyday lives.?

Additional details for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will be announced in 2018.

To stay up to date on Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, please visit: www.harrypotterwizardsunite.com and sign-up to receive the latest information and follow the game on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HPWizardsUnite/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HPWizardsUnite.