Russian fans of the acclaimed action RPG Hogwarts Legacy ranked among the top five supporters of the project, even though the publisher blocked official sales within the country. Market data from a research agency called New Zoo highlights how popular the game became despite the restriction.
The experts note that although Hogwarts Legacy cannot be bought on Steam in Russia, local gamers are still finding ways to access and play the title. This observation comes from the analysts who track player activity and regional engagement across platforms.
In the period when the game launched, researchers examined the audience in Russia and found that February activity placed the country in fourth position in terms of active users. This shows a strong interest from Russian players despite the limitation on official distribution channels.
Within the broader international ranking, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States claimed the third, second, and first spots in the top three, illustrating a substantial geographic spread of Hogwarts Legacy fans and a high level of engagement in English-speaking markets as well as parts of Western Europe.
The Steam page for Hogwarts Legacy in Russia appears to be blocked, and gamers rely on parallel imports to obtain physical copies for consoles. This workaround underscores how demand persists even when direct access is hindered by regional restrictions.
Hogwarts Legacy, a narrative centered on the famed Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was released on February 10 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. In the first two weeks after launch, the title generated approximately 850 million dollars in revenue and reached a sales milestone of around 12 million copies across platforms, demonstrating the strong commercial appeal of the game in multiple regions.
On the older generation consoles, specifically PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, developers initially announced delays to the release date. The postponement affected players who favored those platforms, reflecting the broader challenge of ensuring a smooth rollout across hardware generations while sustaining momentum post-launch.
Industry observers emphasize that the success of Hogwarts Legacy hinges not only on its tie to the Harry Potter universe but also on ongoing post-launch support, frequent updates, and the depth of its open-world design. The game has become a case study in how a highly anticipated title can sustain interest through continuous content and cross‑platform availability, even amid regional access limitations.
As the market continues to evolve, analysts suggest that regional access policies, alternative distribution methods, and the global appetite for fantasy RPGs will shape future launches. Hogwarts Legacy demonstrates that passionate player communities can maintain enthusiasm and fuel enduring engagement, regardless of initial distribution hurdles or official sales constraints. This dynamic underscores the importance of resilient regional strategies and the role of consumer demand in driving the lifecycle of major global releases. [Citation: New Zoo]