Summary
The highly anticipated wizarding world titleHogwarts Legacymay not have been an award-winning addition to Warner Bros.’s roster of titles, but it was thebest-selling game of 2023, managing the rare feat of beating that year’sCall of Duty. The title brought fans of theHarry Potterfranchise back more than a hundred years before the titular character’s birth, letting them walk the walls of Hogwarts in a way no other game set in the well-loved fantasy world had ever done before.
Hogwarts Legacywas easily a financial win for the burgeoning game publisher, but despite its success as a single-player game,there’s a possibility that Warner Bros. isn’t planning the type of sequel players are hoping for.Given some recent comments from an executive at Warner Bros. Discovery, it seems the unconfirmedHogwarts Legacy 2may look a lot different.
Harry Potter Canon Already Has The Perfect Set-Up For Hogwarts Legacy 2
The universe of Harry Potter is massive, and that means that there are canon events that can be used to create a perfect set-up for Hogwarts Legacy 2.
Warner Bros. Plans To Focus On Live Service Games Going Forward
Warner Bros. Discovery Gaming Boss Plans To Pour Into Mobile And Free-To-Play Titles
During a Morgan Stanley speaking event in March 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery gaming boss J.B. Perrette confirmed that the gaming division is looking for new ways to create games using its existing IP, but his comments raise some concerns for players. “Rather than just launching a one-and-done console game, how do we develop a game around, for example, a Hogwarts Legacy or Harry Potter,that is a live-service where people can live and work and build and play in that world in an ongoing basis?” he said, perGameSpot.
It’s a move that Perrette confirmed isprioritizing long-term profits over creating impactful stories within the IP available to Warner Bros. Though a free-to-play title would ultimately make aHogwarts Legacysequel more accessible for all possible players, it completely changes the tone and format of a story that many die-hardHarry Potterfans loved. Ever since the release ofHogwarts Legacy, players have been begging for more, butthese comments make it clear it likely won’t come in the form they’re hoping for.
Perrette’s comments have led to apopularly signedHogwarts Legacy 2petition, in which signatories hope to keep the game from being live-service.
Hogwarts Legacy Already Didn’t Hold Up To Past The Initial Hype
The Much-Teased Summer Update Was Decidedly Lackluster
More than a year afterHogwarts Legacywas initially released on consoles,Avalanche Softwareteased a free summer update for players, promising more content and some much-needed features.But despite the long lead-up to this update that many hoped would be DLC-sized, it merely added photo mode, theHaunted Hogsmeade queston every platform (except PlayStation, where it was already available), and the opportunity to respec Talent Points. It was anupdate that disappointed players.
These additions were small in comparison to the longevity plenty of developers have added to other “one-and-done console game[s]” through consistent updates, using player feedback as a guiding light. Despite the many requests and hopes from players for possible additions in this update (such as new mounts, spells, or side quests),the final result showed that the developers had given little thought to the big ideas players had for the growth of the game.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Cut Content Ruined The Perfect Harry Potter Game
One player has seeming stumbled across cut content for Hogwarts Legacy, which could have given Harry Potter fans the experience they truly desired.
Not only do live-service games need that care and attention to player feedback that Avalanche and Warner Bros. have not exhibited so far, butwriting off the influence of single-player console games is also a disservice to the impact they can have.Hogwarts Legacylaid the groundwork for a great original storyline set in the wizarding world, but a possible live-service sequel is setting the franchise up for more failure.
