Harry Potter: Wizards Unite retail sponsorships mean buffed Fortresses and Inns at your local mall

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Several thousand locations will host events this summer and beyond

(Image credit: Warner bros)

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is finally out, and it's turning plenty of players into witches and wizards. To help propel newcomers on their path to become the wizard king - sorry, wrong franchise - Niantic is working with mobile and retail partners to bring special events to hotspots across the United States. 

If you've ever participated in a Pokemon Go retail sponsorship, you already know what to expect here. For mobile RPG neophytes, here's how things go. Inns and Fortresses which appear at select AT&T stores will now grant more XP and spell energy, respectively, meaning they'll be among the most efficient places to level up and refresh spells. AT&T stores in Chicago and San Francisco will also host "expanded Harry Potter: Wizards Unite build-outs where players can immerse themselves in the augmented reality experience," Niantic said. 

It's not just AT&T, mind you. Sponsored Cricket Wireless stores will also feature boosted Fortresses and Inns, but while the AT&T bonuses are already available, these won't appear until July 15. Non-mobile retailers are also getting involved, with Simon Malls, Mills, and Premium Outlets malls offering boosted Fortresses and Inns of their own. If you're looking for a more efficient walking route to beef up your wizarding rounds, these locations will be a good place to start. 

Austin Wood
Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.