Before you install
ArcaneMP is pre-release multiplayer software for Hogwarts Legacy on Windows PC, or on Linux through Proton. You need a legitimate copy of the game from Steam or the Epic Games Store; PC Game Pass support is experimental. The launcher looks for Steam first, then Epic, then Game Pass.
The current testing release is 1.10.0. Use the game version, client build, and release channel requested by the server you are joining. Servers allow 32 players by default, and owners can raise that to 128.
- Launch Hogwarts Legacy normally through Steam, Epic, or the Xbox app first to confirm the base game works.
- Keep enough free space for the extracted client and future launcher patches.
- Get a complete build archive from the team or your server owner. Players do not need a compiler, database, or server resource pack.
Install the client once
Start future sessions through the launcher too. It checks the configured release channel before starting the game; mixing files from different archives can leave the install unusable.
- Download the build archive shared by the team or server owner, then extract it completely. Do not run the launcher from the ZIP.
- Keep the client folder in a permanent, writable location. It does not need to live inside the Hogwarts Legacy game folder.
- Keep HogwartsMPLauncher.exe, HogwartsMPClient.dll, MafiaHubUpdater.exe, cef_subprocess.exe, and all bundled runtime files together.
- Run HogwartsMPLauncher.exe. Let its update check finish; it may close and restart itself while patching. Do not start a second copy.
Join your friends
The launcher starts the game directly. Choose a server in the main-menu browser, or open Direct Connect and enter the address supplied by the server owner. The default game port is 27015; include :port when the server uses a different one.
Client-side scripts are delivered by the server during connection. Supported CurseForge requirements are also reconciled during the handshake. You do not manually copy the server’s resources into your client folder.
The first connection can take longer while content loads. The menu reports join progress and explains why a session ended. A server advertising an older version may need a different build, so check before joining.
What to expect in a session
Explore with other players, see their outfits and spell effects, and travel on synchronized brooms and creature mounts. Positional voice is implemented: the default push-to-talk key is V, with normal speech audible at roughly 25 metres. Voice ranges and gameplay rules are controlled by the server.
Houses, PvP, creature care, Room of Requirement rooms, inventory, shops, and roleplay systems depend on the resources the server runs. The multiplayer framework provides the tools; not every server offers the same game mode.
Shared campaign progression remains research. This is a multiplayer sandbox, not a promise that Hogwarts Legacy’s story can be completed cooperatively.
When a connection goes wrong
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|
| Game not found | Confirm the Steam, Epic, or Game Pass installation launches normally. If you own more than one, the launcher uses Steam, then Epic, then Game Pass. |
| Update check fails | Check connectivity and restart the launcher. Existing files may launch, but an outdated build can be rejected. |
| Server rejects the client | Match both the server build and release channel; ask its owner which archive to use. |
| Server missing from the browser | It may be unlisted. Ask for its direct-connect address and UDP port. |
| Loading fails after a resource download | Restart once, then report the client log and server name. Do not mix in random resource folders. |
| A required mod fails to activate | Check conflicting manual game mods with the server owner and include the mod-sync error. |
Send a useful bug report
Include what happened, what you expected, the approximate time and time zone, your build, and whether the issue repeats. A screenshot or short clip helps with visual problems. Attach logs/HogwartsMP.log from your client directory after reproducing the issue.
Remove private addresses, passwords, tokens, and other players’ personal information before sharing logs.