What to expect from Niantic's upcoming Harry Potter AR game

Niantic Labs is setting its sights on the wizarding world for its next AR project, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. If the prospect of Pokémon Go excited you, save for, say, the Pokémon part, now might be your chance to join in on the excitement. Following on the massive success of Pokémon GO, the world of Harry Potter seems like a natural next step for the social AR genre.

The game's still in the early stages of development, but here's what you can expect from the game so far.

You'll learn different spells

As you progress through the game, you learn new spells to add to your arsenal, which will be incredibly helpful to you as you explore your neighborhood, newly sprinkled with fellow wizards and magical beasts.

It's going to have a Fantastic Beasts vibe

Speaking of beasts, Wizards Unite could be closely tied to the new Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie franchise. In Harry Potter: Wizard's Unite, you'll be teaming up with other players to take down these dangerous beasties wandering your very own streets.

It will be co-operative

Wizards Unite is taking a page or two from Ingress, Niantic's first AR game. Like Ingress, you'll be working together with other players, rather than duelling them, to save your neighborhood from the dark forces and other enemies.

Niantic will be trying new things

Having learned many lessons in developing Pokémon GO, Niantic looks interested in trying new things to move their AR brand forward. We're not quite sure how that will manifest just yet, but here's hoping the team will harness their experience from Pokémon GO to create something bigger and better.

Will you be heading to Hogwarts with Niantic? Let us know in the comments below.