UPDATED: The New Pottermore Is Here!

by · September 22, 2015

Pottermore has been teasing us for a while now, hinting that big changes are coming to the site. And now, September 22, the time has come. Pottermore as we knew it has gone, replaced by the newly relaunched version.

Pottermore shared an exclusive video from J.K. Rowling herself to introduce the new site.

 

https://youtu.be/2giCyqGNXQo

 

Jo teases that new content will be coming soon, including information about new characters, and describes the site as her “magical corner of the Internet.”

Jo’s message is also available when you log onto the site, as an audio message. Once you log in, you’re greeted with a range of different options and news to read. The Pottermore correspondent tells us that

We will bring the Sorting Hat back, so you can find out if you’re a Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. Soon, you’ll be able to find out the form of your Patronus and ponder on what that means, you’ll be able to get a wand and who knows what other magical things we’ll conjure up. If you keep an eye on the [n]ews section, you’ll be the first to hear what’s coming next and when. Because the site is ever-evolving and we’d truly value your opinion, tell us what you think, and we’ll work our magic on it.

Plus, the correspondent also tells us that

this is where you’ll be able to read brand new writing by J.K. Rowling (yes, it’s canon!)[;] check out magical characters, objects, spells and places[;] reminisce about the first time you read the books[;] ruminate on advice from the great Dumbledore[;] speculate about Newt Scamander[;] try to guess the identity of the Cursed Child[;] fall in love with the stories all over again and SO MUCH MORE.

I recommend getting lost on the site; there are so many beautiful secrets lurking if you stay long enough to find them. Have a look around. And come back! Come back tomorrow! And the next day and the next day and the day after that! We’re updating the site all the time.

It sounds like it won’t be long until we can take that Patronus test! Check back for more information as we explore the new site and find out what is has to offer.

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UPDATE:

We’ve already found the first new snippets of information from J.K. Rowling – about the Potters! The new information gives us the Potter family history, including how the family came to have their money, Harry’s paternal grandparents’ names and careers, and much more. For example, we learn that it was Harry’s grandfather

Fleamont who took the family gold and quadrupled it, by creating magical Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion ( ‘two drops tames even the most bothersome barnet’ ). He sold the company at a vast profit when he retired, but no amount of riches could compensate him or his wife Euphemia for their childlessness. They had quite given up hope of a son or daughter when, to their shock and surprise, Euphemia found that she was pregnant and their beloved boy, James, was born.

Intrigued? Read more here about the Potter family.

Meanwhile, head over to Pottermore NOW to explore the brand new site!

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Don’t forget to share your thoughts and comments on the new site in the comments.

Press Release

Pottermore launches as the digital heart of the Wizarding World, with new writing by J.K. Rowling about the origins of the Potter family

For release 22 September 2015

Pottermore.com today reveals its newly imagined website and positioning as the digital heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World with a major redesign and packed with exclusive writing, features, and news. New writing by J.K. Rowling continues to be at the core of the site which also features a never before seen article by the author, revealing the history of the wizarding Potter family from its illustrious beginnings in the twelfth century.

The new writing from J.K. Rowling sheds unexpected new light on the origins of the Potter family name, delves into Harry’s ancestry, explains how his grandfather quadrupled the family’s fortune and how the Invisibility Cloak became a family heirloom.

Recently undergoing a design transformation, pottermore.com now includes more content than ever before and is designed to be consumed in a completely different way to the original site, which was launched in 2012. The new site contains entertaining features, commentary and articles about the Harry Potter series and the wider Wizarding World. Being designed first for mobile also helps users to easily share on social media as they go.

For the first time ever, there will be reporting and features by the Pottermore Correspondent, a journalist dedicated to reporting on all the latest updates going on in the Wizarding World. In the months to come the Pottermore Correspondent will report on the forthcoming Warner Bros. feature film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, based on an original J.K. Rowling screenplay, and the stage play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, written by Jack Thorne, which is set to open in London in 2016.

Susan L. Jurevics, Chief Executive Officer, Pottermore, said:
‘J.K. Rowling is continuing to expand her magical universe, and as the Wizarding World expands, so does Pottermore. The fascinating story of the Potter family, from the author herself, will enthrall everyone interested in this world and shows just how J.K. Rowling’s writing remains at the heart of our new site. Users will find all areas easier to access, due to the elimination of mandatory registration, as well as responsive designs for optimal viewing across a wide range of devices. Our new digital destination is tailored to unlock and stimulate the imagination like never before.’

The new version of pottermore.com is an English-language site only and is a flexible and evolving digital platform for the Wizarding World. The Harry Potter eBooks and digital audio books remain available to buy in multiple languages via the Pottermore Shop: https://shop.pottermore.com.

About Pottermore
Pottermore is the digital entertainment, news and e-commerce company from J.K. Rowling, inspired by the Harry Potter books and the wider Wizarding World. Launched in 2012, it is also the global publisher of the Harry Potter eBooks and digital audio books. As the digital heart of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, pottermore.com is dedicated to unlocking the power of imagination. It offers news, features, and articles as well as new and previously unreleased writing by J.K. Rowling.