It had been rumoured previously, but now it's official, TT Games will be producing a new Harry Potter based game similar to their previous efforts with Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman.

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES AND THE LEGO GROUP

ANNOUNCE LEGO® HARRY POTTER™: YEARS 1-4

Videogame Pieces Together Two of the World’s Most Recognizable Brands to

Introduce New Harry Potter Game Experience

London – Embargoed until 1400 GMT, June 1, 2009 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games are teaming up with the LEGO Group, to merge two of the world’s most popular brands with the creation of LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4. Based on the first four Harry Potter books and movies that tell the story of Harry’s first four years at Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 offers an engaging mix of magical gameplay and light-hearted humour. LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is being developed by TT Games and will be published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and is scheduled for release in 2010.

LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 will give gamers the chance to experience the magic and adventure of Harry Potter in a new and uniquely LEGO way. Playing as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley™ and Hermione Granger™, as well as other favourite characters, gamers will have the opportunity to attend lessons, cast spells, mix potions, fly on broomsticks and complete tasks to earn house points. Throughout the game, players will also have the freedom to explore iconic settings from the wizarding world including Hogwarts castle, Diagon Alley™, the Forbidden Forest and the village of Hogsmeade™!

“With LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 we are creating an open, wide-ranging experience within Hogwarts that is full of fun and LEGO magic,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “Harry Potter is one of the most beloved and well-respected characters, and we look forward to bringing gamers a new way of interacting in the universe with the LEGO games’ great humour and exploration.”

“Harry Potter is one of the world’s most popular and inspirational heroes, and LEGO® Harry Potter: Years 1-4 will appeal to a generation of gamers who grew up immersed in the Harry Potter books and films, and also loved playing with LEGO toys,” said Samantha Ryan, Senior Vice President, Development and Production, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The game is geared for players to experience a good mix of puzzle solving gameplay with exploration and battle in some of the most beloved Harry Potter environments, plus a few other surprises.”

Check out the discussion thread for more details and a link to the teaser trailer first shown at E3.

According to a number of online articles, including here and here, LEGO will be adding a license to produce Ben 10 based toys in 2010.

The range, based on the Ben 10 Alien Force adventures, is expected to launch globally in Spring 2010 and promises a new twist on the Lego building system.

“Over the past four years, Ben 10 has established itself as a global brand that continues to expand and thrive in different categories and markets,” said Christina Miller, vice president, Cartoon Network Enterprises.

“Expanding this relationship with Lego, the leading construction toy brand, is an exciting opportunity for Ben 10 that will continue to build towards years of future success at retail.”

”We’re thrilled to expand our very successful partnership with Cartoon Network to now include licensing and product development,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president of licensing and entertainment for Lego Group.

“There is such a natural synergy between fans of the Lego brand and the loyal audience that Cartoon Network engages, and Ben 10 Alien Force is the perfect property on which to base a new way to build and play with Lego elements.”

I say "toys" because phrases like "a new twist on the Lego building system" and "a new way to build and play with Lego elements" give me flashbacks of Galidor, but let's hope that's not the case and it's just a bit of hyperbole. The fact that a representative of both TLG and CN are quoted making statements of that nature, however...

Discuss this news here.

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