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UPDATED: “Harry Potter: Wizards Unite” Beta Now Available in New Zealand

by · Published · Updated

New Zealand is getting a head start on saving the wizarding world!

Niantic put out word today to the country’s aspiring wizards and witches that they will be getting first crack at Harry Potter: Wizards Unite in a beta version.

 

 

The game is available for download in both the App Store and Google Play, and while New Zealand players were warned the product “may be buggy and unstable at times,” they’re being encouraged to provide feedback that will help improve future versions. Niantic also made clear that the overall appearance and design of the game were not final and that all features and available languages are not yet available.

Wizards Unite Hub says early talk among those who’ve already begun playing indicates that styles corresponding to the four Hogwarts Houses will be available for players’ avatars, the game’s map is very similar to that of Pokémon GO, and players are issued Ministry of Magic badges and are able to cast spells by tracing their fingers over their screens.

Many New Zealand gamers on Twitter were already lauding the game. Liam James tweeted a video of the game’s registration process.

 

 

While there’s still no word on when the game will become available to players in other countries, Niantic is continuing to encourage players to sign up for updates at WizardsUnite.com and to preregister on Google Play. We also let you know last week that Pokémon GO and Ingress players can reserve their usernames for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite until April 30.

Any New Zealanders out there playing already? Color us jealous! Let us know in the comments what you think of the game so far!

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UPDATE (May 2):

The beta is now live in New Zealand and Australia! Who’s played it? Let us know how it is!

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Brienne Green

I'm a passionate journalist, feeding my wizarding world obsession on MuggleNet by night, forever trying to find ways to work "Potter" references into high school sports stories by day. When not writing, I can be often be found making quiche at 2 a.m., playing Queen tunes on the piano, or talking (and talking and talking) about Sirius Black.