Following the success of "Pokemon Go," the augmented reality gaming app that has overtaken mobile users around the globe, "Harry Potter" fans have been hoping that a similar game would be developed specifically for Potterheads. Could a "Harry Potter Go" exist and is Niantic Labs really making steps to develop this? There's been a strong buzz about the app's release over the weekend, but what's the real score?
'Harry Potter Go' Reportedly Coming To Mobile?
News of a potential "Harry Potter Go" mobile gaming app release supposedly first surfaced on IGN, where a senior developer from Niantic Labs allegedly confirmed in an interview that "Harry Potter Go" is in development. However, the interview doesn't actually appear on the page. Either the site took it down or it was never published in the first place.
In the said report, an executive named Marcus Figueroa from Niantic was supposed to have said that the company has "acquired the rights for the app," per JTXH News. Figueroa additionally allegedly stated that Niantic Labs intends to launch "Harry Potter Go" by 2017. "We want to do something with schools of witchcraft and wizardry, similar to pokestops in Pokemon GO," Figueroa supposedly said in the interview and also envisioned a quest system and other events for the app.
I'm ready for Harry Potter Go.
— Professor Snape (@_Snape_) July 27, 2016
'Harry Potter Go' Gaming App News Not True
Even established sites like Hello Giggles and Cosmopolitan picked up the buzz, which sent fans into a frenzy. But Gizmodo reports that the original report from IGN looks like it actually never existed. The site also points out that Niantic's interviews are almost always represented by its founder, John Hanke. The name "Marcus Figueroa" seems to be linked with fake news.
It's not uncommon for such fake news to exist since there has been a strong demand for a "Harry Potter" gaming app, inspired by the popularity of "Pokemon Go." In fact, Potterheads actually spearheaded a petition for gaming companies to develop the app, via The Petition Site. At least 40,384 have signed the petition as of this writing.
Bustle reports that #WeNeedHarryPotterGo also trended on Twitter to coincide with the lodging of the petition. Whether or not a gaming company might actually give in to this clamor remains to be seen. But for now, it's false alarm for "Harry Potter Go" and there's no solid reports that Niantic Labs is developing this.
