It's entirely possible Hogwarts Legacy is the start of a trilogy of Harry Potter video games. Players already know they will be attending Hogwarts as a fifth-year student in Hogwarts Legacy, and while this late arrival won't keep them from being able to choose what house they want to be sorted into, it does pose interesting questions about just how long the game's story will, or theoretically could, last.
Hogwarts Legacy already looks like it will be a massive game, encompassing not just the school of Hogwarts itself but also the surrounding countryside, villages, and towns. New and returning characters from Harry Potter have been shown in gameplay trailers, and players will even be able to ride broomsticks as a form of quick traversal. This scale, alongside the player character's age and year of schooling, could mean that Hogwarts Legacy could be too big for just a single game.
Why Hogwarts Legacy Could Receive Multiple Sequels
Starting as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts makes sense from a gameplay perspective, as many players may not be as interested in stepping into the shoes of a 10-year old as they are an older character. However, this means the player character will have three full years of schooling to complete before graduating from Hogwarts. This could result in Hogwarts Legacy's story spanning three full years, or it could hint toward multiple installments.
While it's not unthinkable that a single game could take place over the course of three years or more, it seems more likely that Warner Bros. is interested in kicking off a trilogy with Hogwarts Legacy. In much the same way as each new Harry Potter book took place over the course of a single year, a Hogwarts Legacy 2 could see players returning to the school as a sixth-year student. This would effectively mirror the structure of the Harry Potter book and movie releases while allowing players to grow alongside their created character over time.
Interested in finding out just how detailed the character creator in Hogwarts Legacy is? Check out the overview from Arekkz Gaming on YouTube below to see all the options available!
Dark wizards with Death Eater connections like Victor Rookwood will appear in Hogwarts Legacy, which should give the story some meaningful stakes. It's unknown exactly what the full plot of Hogwarts Legacy is at this point, but a magical battle between the forces of good and evil deserves more than just one video game entry. Planning on future Hogwarts Legacy games in advance could also allow the developers to start leaving easter eggs for players to find now which will pay off in later entries.
Why Hogwarts Legacy 2 Makes Sense
If Hogwarts Legacy performs well, it's likely that Warner Bros. will want to make it into a full-fledged trilogy. There has yet to be a modern, AAA Harry Potter series (except for the LEGO games) and it's doubtful that anyone involved in this project would be interested in squandering an opportunity to make a Wizarding World gaming franchise. The most likely situation is that beating Hogwarts Legacy's story will provide a satisfying conclusion with a few loose threads remaining, and if the game sells enough then Hogwarts Legacy 2 can expand on the scope of the original.
A sequel to Hogwarts Legacy following this structure should embrace the concepts of games like Mass Effect, which allow player choices and custom characters to persist across all three entries. Hogwarts Legacy 2 could allow players to load their previous save files and keep the exact same student across both games, and can then begin building towards an overarching conclusion for Hogwarts Legacy 3. While it's far too close to the "first" Hogwarts Legacy's release date to know for sure, a solid structure and foundation already exists, so Hogwarts Legacy might just be the start of a trilogy.
Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.
In the USA:
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
Switchboard: 01273 204050
Mermaids: 0808 801 0400
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Hogwarts Legacy
- Released:
- 2022-02-10
- Developer:
- Avalanche Software
- Genre:
- Adventure, Action RPG, Open-World
- Platform:
- Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Steam
- Publisher:
- Warner Bros. Games
- ESRB:
- T
- Franchise:
- Harry Potter
- Mode:
- Single-Player
- Platforms:
- Xbox One
- Release Date :
- February 2023
- Rating:
- T
