The Future of Hogwarts Legacy Sequel: Unveiling a Magical New Era

Highlights

Limitations arise for Hogwarts Legacy due to its setting in the late 1800s, where adherence to the pre-established history of the Wizarding World restricts the inclusion of profoundly impactful or game-changing occurrences.

In the Wizarding World, having knowledge of future events reduces the possibility of encountering formidable adversaries and diminishes the suspense in the game since players are already aware of certain outcomes.

To alleviate narrative constraints, introduce fresh characters and conflicts, and cultivate a story that is both unpredictable and lighthearted, a follow-up to Hogwarts Legacy should be set after the conclusion of Harry Potter's story.

The Wizarding World is best known for its portrayal in the Harry Potter books and films, which took place in the 1990s. However, Avalanche Software's Hogwarts Legacy decided to set its story in the late 1800s to avoid repeating the same narrative. While this choice offered some intriguing possibilities, it ultimately limited the game in various ways. Considering that the sequel to Hogwarts Legacy is likely to differ from its predecessor, Avalanche should explore a new direction for the setting.

In Hogwarts Legacy, players assume the role of a student who joins Hogwarts in 1890. The school and its surroundings may be familiar to fans of the Harry Potter series, but certain elements of the story and overall premise will also resonate with those familiar with the Wizarding World lore. The 1800s setting adds an interesting dimension to the central conflict of the game, the intricate world-building, and the anticipation of what lies ahead in the Wizarding World. However, it also presents some fundamental challenges that a sequel should address and improve upon.

Hogwarts Legacy is Restricted by its Setting

The sequel to Hogwarts Legacy faces challenges not only regarding its spells but also in terms of navigating creative obstacles set by its pre-established setting. Taking place before Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter, Hogwarts Legacy is more restricted than necessary. This limitation is evident in how the game's story must adhere to the existing history of the franchise, preventing significant or world-altering plotlines that would contradict events mentioned in Fantastic Beasts or Harry Potter.

Similarly, players familiar with the Wizarding World are aware of certain events that must and must not occur due to previous entries. Thus, if a villain threatens to destroy Hogwarts, most players won't feel tension since they know Hogwarts will continue to exist for characters like Newt and Harry. This constraint significantly limits the potential for formidable enemies in Hogwarts Legacy. Consequently, when characters like Ranrok pose threats to the Wizard community, it becomes challenging to take it seriously, as players know it will not have lasting consequences.

Hogwarts Legacy Can Break Its Chains by Taking Place After Harry Potter

Content would have more freedom if the next installment in the franchise takes place after the events of Harry Potter. By taking this approach, Avalanche could create a brand-new story for Hogwarts Legacy, one that is full of surprises and introduces fresh characters and conflicts, instead of being tied to the past.

Even if the sequel to Hogwarts Legacy takes a lighter tone, this shift in setting would still be advantageous. The potential for a less intense story is much greater in a future setting, as there would be no looming threat from characters like Voldemort or Grindelwald, who could disrupt the Wizarding World. In the future, wizards could potentially live harmoniously, alongside other magical creatures or even muggles, since the conflicts from previous Wizarding World narratives have been resolved.

It should be noted that Hogwarts Legacy is another prequel to Harry Potter. The previous Fantastic Beasts films have already explored the world of Hogwarts and wizardkind before the 90s, so there isn't as much originality in the setting. Instead of focusing on how Hogwarts Legacy fits into the established timeline, Avalanche should take a bold step and create a completely new path for the sequel. This change in setting would be drastic, but the Hogwarts Legacy sequel could still connect to its predecessor through the Ancient Magic storyline, similar to how Assassin's Creed connects its different settings through the Templar conflict. By taking this approach, the next Hogwarts Legacy could be innovative, imaginative, and truly remarkable.

Hogwarts Legacy is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A version for the Switch will be released on November 14th.