Magical-Menagerie

Geek merchandise brand Merchoid has revealed their officially licensed Harry Potter Christmas sweaters for 2022! There are some returning favorites as well as brand new Hogwarts House designs! We’ve reviewed their sweaters in the past (2019, 2020) and have always enjoyed these ugly holiday sweaters.

Mrs Weasley has been hard at work this year, conjuring up new designs paying tribute to each Hogwarts House for our new range of Harry Potter Christmas Sweaters for 2022!

Distributing her designs to the Merchoid elves, each house has been exquisitely represented to all its glory in the finest of vegan-friendly acrylic threads. Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs can rejoice this festive season and relax in the latest (and dare we say most stylish) designs that wouldn’t look out of place in the Three Broomsticks or whilst shopping in Hogsmeade.

Regardless of if you’re still waiting for your acceptance letter or not, we’re bringing a bit of Hogwarts magic into your home, or your festive gatherings, for the holiday season.

There are currently nine designs available so be sure to check out the Merchoid website before they sell out! Here’s a look at some of the older designs from past years:

NOTE: If you are outside the UK shipping will be a bit slower, Merchoid estimates 10-15 days so be sure to order soon if you want to wear them this year!

Universal has announced the return of a fan favorite event to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. On select nights September 16 through October 31, guests will encounter Death Eaters in the streets of Hogsmeade and watch as a powerful dark spell is cast on Hogwarts castle – highlighting unspeakable creatures and sinister villains from the Wizarding World. It’s truly an amazing experience seeing the Death Eaters come out to play, we’ve experienced it a few times and it never disappoints.

The darker side of magic comes to life this fall in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando Resort with the return of Death Eaters and the breathtaking experience “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” – a sinister spectacle of state-of-the-art projection mapping, special effects, lighting and more that brings awe-inspiring moments and creatures from the Harry Potter films to life on the majestic Hogwarts castle. “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” will run select nights September 16 through October 31 from dusk until park close in Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

As darkness falls, an ominous presence will fill the land as the Dark Arts begin to take over the streets of Hogsmeade and cloak the stone walls of Hogwarts castle. Guests will come face-to-face with Death Eaters – devoted followers of Lord Voldemort known for their allegiance and practice of the Dark Arts – as they appear and eerily roam and lurk throughout Hogsmeade. Then, guests will watch as “Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle” unleashes the unspeakable creatures and sinister villains of the Wizarding World – including Dementors, Mountain Trolls and even a visage of Lord Voldemort – on Hogwarts castle until a Patronus – the result of a powerful defense charm of concentrated happiness and hope – is produced. 

Guests can also shop new Dark Arts-themed merchandise featuring the Dark Mark during their visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including mugs, hats, lanyards, tees – and even a Death Eater mask.

To celebrate Back to Hogwarts Day on September 1st, Warner Bros have released a new video with a look ahead at the Hogwarts Legacy game, releasing next February. They have also announced that fans can link their Harry Potter Fan Club account to a Warner. Bros Games account to import their house and wand into the game as well as receive exclusive items.

Based on the Harry Potter Fan Club’s official Sorting Experience, together with the Wand Ceremony, players can bring their authentic self into Hogwarts Legacy. Linking accounts will also unlock a Beaked Skull Mask and exclusive “House Fan-Atic School Robes” in game, a special set of robes so players can represent their Hogwarts house with style.   

Players can head to wizardingworld.com/legacyconnect to connect their account and receive the special in-game items when Hogwarts Legacy releases for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch. 

Additionally, there was a look at the entrances and interiors of the house common rooms at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  Starting with Slytherin’s entrance hidden behind a slithering arch of a stone serpent, through the lavish Gryffindor common room set in one of the tallest towers, and the warm, brightly lit Ravenclaw lounge, to the not often seen Hufflepuff common room bathed in natural sunlight through a skylight, players will have plenty to explore in the game.   

Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and Superfly X have shared a first look at Quidditch Skills Training games that will be available during Harry Potter: Magic at Play. Harry Potter: Magic at Play will make its worldwide debut at Chicago’s iconic Water Tower Place on Friday, Nov. 11 and will remain open through May 14, 2023. Tickets start at $37.50 for adults and $29.50 for children 9 and under.

Guests will discover, interact and explore their way through the experience, which is designed to engage imaginations and bring out the young witch or wizard in everyone. It will also feature a gift shop open to both ticketed and non-ticketed guests. The gift shop will offer a wide range of bespoke and licensed items alongside themed food and beverage including the beloved Butterbeer.  

At Harry Potter: Magic at Play, the journey begins at 4 Privet Drive. Explore the Dursley’s living room taking care to not disturb anyone in the cupboard under the stairs; step onto a boat and prepare to cross the Great Lake to Hogwarts; attend some of Hogwarts’ most beloved classes, mastering “Wingardium Leviosa” and levitating a feather in Charms, exploring the Potions dungeon with all senses and fending off a swarm of Cornish Pixies in Defense Against the Dark Arts; practice Quidditch fundamentals for various player positions; visit Hagrid’s pumpkin patch and traverse the Forbidden Forest; and so much more. A multitude of iconic experiences and surprises await guests throughout the space as they forge their path through Harry’s journey. 

Warner Bros has released a new trailer for Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world, action role-playing game scheduled for release on February 10, 2023 (previously Holiday 2022.) The game is set in the 1800’s wizarding world. Beginning as a fifth year, players will embark on a journey through new and familiar locations, explore and discover magical beasts, craft potions, master spell casting, upgrade talents and customize their character to become the witch or wizard they want to be. 

The “Sebastian Sallow’s Dark Legacy” gameplay trailer showcases some of the darker elements players will encounter, including a closer look at the game’s more dangerous locales, sinister foes and fearsome magical creatures lurking in the shadows. We have previously posted gameplay back in March.

The game will be available for pre-order on PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One on August 25th. Pre-orders and release date for the Nintendo Switch will bee revealed at a later date. All players that pre-order will be able to obtain the exclusive Onyx Hippogriff Mount upon completing the relevant quest. There will be four different versions of the game as outlined below:

The Hogwarts Legacy Standard Edition will be available for PlayStation^®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch^™ and PC for $59.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation^®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $69.99 (SRP).   

The Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition will be available for PlayStation_^®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch^™ and PC for $69.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation_^®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $79.99 (SRP).  It includes 72 hours Early Access to the game starting on February 7, 2023, as well as the Dark Arts Pack. The Dark Arts Pack provides access to an exclusive wardrobe via the Dark Arts Cosmetic Set, a flying Thestral Mount players can ride, and access to the Dark Arts Battle Arena where players can test their mastery of the Dark Arts against waves of challenging enemies.

The Hogwarts Legacy Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $79.99 (SRP) across all platforms and includes the Deluxe Edition content as well as the Dark Arts Garrison Hat and cross-gen digital upgrade for PlayStation^®5, PlayStation^®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. 

The Hogwarts Legacy Collector’s Edition will be available for PlayStation^®4, Xbox One and PC for $289.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation^®5 and Xbox Series X for $299.99 (SRP) and includes the Deluxe Edition content, Dark Arts Garrison Hat, as well as a physical Life-Size Floating Ancient Magic Wand with Book Base, Steel Case, and in-game Kelpie Robe.