EA Confirms Development Of Fifth Harry Potter Game

Electronic Arts has confirmed its continued support of the popular Harry Potter franchise by announcing the development of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the video game adaptation of J.K. Rowling's book and upcoming film of the same name. The game, which marks the series' first for next-generation console platforms, is currently scheduled to ship in July 2007 in order to coincide with the movie's theatrical debut. Under development by EA's UK Studio, the team behind previous Harry Potter titles, that game is in development for the Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance, and PC. As with previous games in the series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will follow fictional student magicians Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger as they work to complete yet another year full of schoolwork and dangers at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the first in the franchise that we have developed for the next generation consoles," said EA UK's executive producer Harvey Elliott. "Together with current generation versions, we are creating an immersive and, above all, faithful Harry Potter experience that will both accurately reflect the world showcased in the film and also delight fans of all ages."