ℹ️ - Hogwarts Legacy Gets a Photo Mode
Developer: Avalanche Software
Publisher: Warner Bros. Games
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S
Initial Release: 10th February 2023
In the first of two fairly huge new photo mode arrivals this week – more on Alan Wake 2's semi-surprise drop soon – Avalanche Software have added the much-requested feature to Hogwarts Legacy for all of your photographic spellcasting needs. Community Manager Chandler Wood took to YouTube and the PlayStation Blog to give the lowdown on what it has in store, take a look at that original video here.
Arriving as part of the free Summer 2024 update, the photo mode can be found via the in-game pause menu and is equipped with a free camera that has quite a large range of movement, 90° roll, and a healthy field of view adjustment via the L/R triggers.
Apart from the optional thirds grid, everything else is found on the on-screen UI that sports a visual design that is very much in keeping with the game itself. Essentials are well catered for with the likes of Depth of Field controlled by manual focus distance and focus amount, which is basically f-stop values to set the defocus, as well as exposure, contrast, and saturation to tweak the resulting image.
- HOGWARTS LEGACY // © WB GAMES -
Further adjustments include vignette strength and imperfections like chromatic aberration and film, plus a selection of 12 stylistic filters with variable intensity and 18 frames. Not only do these provide a range of unique colour tones to use on your shots, but they include various overlays too that add dirt on the lens and even textured effects.
- HOGWARTS LEGACY // © WB GAMES -
Characters and NPC's get a visibility toggle to hide them from the scene, while a series of poses let the playable character sit, stand, roll-over...? Ok, there's no roll-over, or playable dogs for that matter, but there are fighting stances and a special taunt to take the number of poses to 11 in total.
- HOGWARTS LEGACY // © WB GAMES -
Last but certainly not least are a couple of environmental controls that really shouldn't be overlooked, unlike the logo positions that I definitely did just overlook. A 24-hour time of day adjustment lets you choose to shoot in the morning or at sunset etc., and the interior lights in nearby buildings will even turn on & off as you move between night and day.
- HOGWARTS LEGACY // © WB GAMES -
Complementing this is something that is rarely seen in any photo mode, largely because it requires the feature to be part of the game in the first place, and that is the ability to change the season – not weather, season. Spring, summer, autumn, and winter are available to let you transform the landscape from a warm summer's day to a cold winter scene blanketed with snow.
- HOGWARTS LEGACY // © WB GAMES -
Pretty good stuff then and although I don't have the game myself yet to give any more of my own thoughts, you can check out Shinobi's overview video below to see more of each setting in action...
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