Summary
The success ofHogwarts Legacyin 2023 means a sequel feels more like a case of when, not if. It’s a game that ruled the roost by being the highest-selling of the year, and thefirst non-Call of Dutyor Rockstar title to achieve the accoladein over a decade, and sales like that often warrant more content. That content could come in the form of DLC, which it could effectively accommodate, but even that may feel like a warm-up act before an eventual full sequel.
Hogwarts Legacypresented fun combat mechanics, a plethora of interesting collectibles, and an open world packed with things to do. The crown jewel of the space was Hogwarts castle itself, which could have been a setting all on its own thanks to its elaborate and multi-layered structure that never got boring. Yet, for the sequel, the castle is too big, detailed, and central to be abandoned, so the next game may be limited by the 2023 game’s innovations.
‘Hogwarts’ Legacy Implies There’s Nowhere Else to Go
WhenAvalanche Softwaredecided to craft a game in theHarry PotterIP around one hundred years before the titular boy was born, it had to get creative with the name and seek different inspirations. It settled forHogwarts Legacy, which was fitting as the 2023 title put the school of witchcraft and wizardry at the forefront, feeling like the focal point of a game that sold in astronomical numbers and received plenty of critical praise. For the sake of consistency, it would make sense that the follow-up uses a similar title, and thus it could be stuck using the same familiar location, or risk confusion.
Hogwarts Legacyhas sold over 22 million copies, making it the best-selling game of 2023, over the second placeThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
It’s the same problem that Rocksteady faced with 2015’sArkham Knight. Though the first game was set in the asylum and the next in Arkham City, the third had to conform to the naming pattern despite using Gotham as a playground. It’s a small problem, but one that a sequel will have to overcome ifHogwarts Legacy 2takes the bold step of setting its story elsewhere in the wizarding world.
The School Presented in Hogwarts Legacy is Too Good to Abandon
One of its biggest strengths wasHogwarts Legacy’s wonderful adaptation of the school. It was full of small curiosities, a whole host of fun references and callbacks, and students that each felt different from the last, all while adhering to an aesthetic that felt consistent. Hogwarts felt like a complex character in and of itself, and players could spend dozens of hours uncovering all its secrets, while getting to know all of its quirks, no matter how subtle.
There are 186 field guide pages inHogwarts Legacyand 150 in Hogwarts alone, all giving insight into its history, places, and people.
AHogwarts Legacy 2can’t just use the same assets in an attempt to recapture the magic. The castle is historic and storied, so adding new areas or changing it too much wouldn’t fit into theHarry Potterlore in a way that makes narrative sense. It’s a difficult decision for Avalanche Software to make, and while there is a whole toy box of world-building that could be explored, abandoning Hogwarts could be a bridge too far and risk the sequel losing some of its well-earned identity.
