Summary
Avalanche Software managed to prove itself as a talent-laden studio capable of producing an ambitious AAA game with the release ofHogwarts Legacy. Although Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment hasn’t made an official announcement regarding a sequel,Hogwarts Legacy’s groundbreaking financial successeffectively ensures that the game will be getting a follow-up at some point.
Hogwarts Legacy’s release was an undeniable win for Warner Bros. and Avalanche Software. The game, despite not being nominated for any Game Awards and receiving criticism for both its design and the transphobic stances adopted by J.K. Rowling, managed to outsell every other new release in 2023, beating ubiquitous franchises likeCall of DutyandMaddenby a significant margin. EvenThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, one of the most highly anticipated games of the last few years, was overshadowed byHogwarts Legacy, at least regarding overall sales. The idea that Warner Bros. isn’t planning to capitalize on this resounding success is almost inconceivable.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Is Almost Guaranteed as a Sure Thing
The Runaway Success of Hogwarts Legacy
Those unfamiliar with the game may look at things likeHogwarts Legacy’s absence from The Game Awardsand the somewhat mixed reception from critics and assume that it was merely a middling success. However, this could not be further from the truth, as evidenced by the game’s mammoth sales. Indeed, if games were still an exclusively physical medium, it’s easy to imagine retailers struggling to meet consumer demand forHogwarts Legacy.
While supporters of the game will cite elements such as its environment design, combat and traversal gameplay, or narrative as reasons for its success, there are likely other factors to consider. Arguably the most significant contributor toHogwarts Legacy’s multi-platform successis theHarry PotterIP itself.
In truth, it’s hard to believe that the idea of aHarry PotterRPG, wherein players can create their own custom character and attend Hogwarts themselves, wasn’t realized earlier. This strong premise allowedHogwarts Legacyto appeal to both casual and hardcore gamers alike, and the massiveHarry Potterfanbase was more than ready to jump into a game promising to deliver the Hogwarts fantasy.
What Hogwarts Legacy 2 Might Look Like Now
Given the franchise potential ofHogwarts Legacy, it’s probably only a matter of time until Warner Bros. unveils its plans for a sequel. The next game in the series, especially if itimproves elements of the firstHogwarts Legacy, has a good chance of being welcomed with open arms, as many consumers are eager to jump back into the Wizarding World.
That said, it will be interesting to see just how Warner Bros. and Avalanche decide to tackle the next game, as it could be a direct sequel or something more akin to a spinoff, taking players to a new corner of the game’s universe. It’s also worth noting thatHogwarts Legacywas something entirely new for Avalanche, so the development of a sequel could be smoother thanks to not only the existing framework and assets from the first game but also the studio’s newfound experience with the open-world RPG genre.
Hogwarts Legacyhas come under heavy firedue to its inextricable connection to J.K. Rowling. Controversies and boycotts could resurface and impact the marketing, release, and sales of a sequel.
It may not carry the same prestige as gamer-favorite franchises likeZeldaorDark Souls, but it cannot be argued thatHogwarts Legacyhas been a success by just about every financial metric. While this was not necessarily hard to predict, it would seem that the game exceeded sales expectations, so not developing a sequel would be leaving money on the table.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you’re able to take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
