Epic Games has dropped a surprise under the tree: Hogwarts Legacy — the blockbuster 2023 Wizarding World RPG — is free to claim on the Epic Games Store for a limited time.
If you want it, don’t dawdle. The game is available at no cost until Thursday, Dec. 18 (Epic’s giveaway window runs through the week), and all you need to do is log into the Epic Games Store and add it to your library to keep it forever.
Why Epic went big
This is the first time Hogwarts Legacy has been handed out as a freebie by Epic, and it’s a statement-sized move. The game sold extremely well at launch and remains one of the biggest single-player hits of recent years — a title that can pull players onto Epic’s launcher. The giveaway kicks off Epic’s Holiday Sale, which the company says will include dozens of deals, “Epic Extras” like in-game cosmetics and currency, 20% back on purchases during the sale, gifting support, and a stream of free titles across the season.
Giving away a heavyweight like Hogwarts Legacy is about more than generosity. It’s a marketing play in a long-running contest for PC players’ attention and wallets — one that feeds into the ongoing conversation about store competition in PC gaming. For more on how distribution is shaping developer choices and platform dynamics, see the debate over Steam’s dominance in PC distribution.
What the free giveaway means for players
- Newcomers who never picked up Hogwarts Legacy can try the full game without paying a cent. Epic’s free period will be relatively short, though — claim it before Dec. 18 to keep it.
- If you already own it on another platform, this won’t change your ownership there, but it does make the game broadly accessible to more players.
The Epic holiday run isn’t a one-off: the storefront often hands out a string of free games through late December and into January, so expect more high-profile freebies after this one wraps.
The controversy that follows the game
Hogwarts Legacy’s popularity hasn’t been without debate. The title was developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Interactive, but discussions around the game have often referenced the Harry Potter author and the controversy tied to her public remarks. Some players and creators weighed ethics and fandom when the game launched, and those conversations continue whenever the title returns to the spotlight.
Epic’s giveaway doesn’t erase that context; for some it will be an opportunity to play, for others a reminder of why they chose to avoid the title. If you’re trying to make a personal choice about playing, it helps to know both the work’s critical and commercial impact and the broader discussion it sits inside.
A note about the PC experience
If you plan to play on PC, the game still shows up strongly in player numbers on platforms like Steam and runs well across a range of hardware. Hands-on fixes and platform features keep the PC ecosystem evolving — from store strategies to hardware improvements. For example, recent work on the Steam Deck’s power and download features shows how hardware tweaks continue to shape how people access and play big releases like this one [/news/steam-deck-display-off-downloads].
If you haven’t claimed Hogwarts Legacy yet, head to the Epic Games Store and add it to your library before the giveaway period ends. After that, Epic has lined up more freebies during its Holiday Sale — a good time to check back if you’re hunting bargains or looking to expand your game library without spending cash.