KingIsle Entertainment has announced that it’s bringing kid-friendly MMORPG, Wizard 101, to PlayStation and Xbox consoles on October 9. A Switch version is coming “at a later date.”
The MMORPG will launch as free-to-play, which includes most of Wizard City, up to the first area of Krokotopia (which isn’t much, apparently).
The rest of the game lies in Premium Zones, which are unlocked by purchasing Crowns or Access Passes. Wizard101 also offers a subscription-based membership that includes the entire game, plus extra benefits.
The upcoming Switch version will not include a free-to-play option. Players instead will purchase the MMO for $19.99, which includes full access to the first story arc and areas.
While the console version will feature cross-play between PlayStation and Xbox (and eventually Switch), the consoles are on a different server than the original PC version. Current players on PC cannot continue their progress, which is a big bummer for players who have been playing for, *checks watch* up to 17 years?
Yep, Wizard 101 has been around since 2008! It’s older than this website, and one of the few MMORPGs to survive the great MMO explosion of the 2000s. It probably helps that Wizard 101 is a more casual game, and particularly popular with younger and nostalgic gamers.
Despite its age, KingsIsle have been proper stewards of the MMO, and it boasts a Very Positive user rating on Steam. The MMO still sees frequent updates and seasonal events each year.
Wizard 101 takes the magic school formula, with players as new wizard students at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. They’ll grow their magic through turn-based card battles, train pets, craft weapons, and personalize their home.
Last year, KingsIsle announced a single player spinoff of the MMO, Ravenwood Academy.
Wizard 101 is rated E10+ by the ESRB for Crude Humor and Mild Fantasy Violence.
