Sequels are often difficult to pull off, andHogwarts Legacy 2will likely be no exception. The most important thing any sequel can do is give audiences more of what they loved in the first game, and whatfans loved were the magical adventures set in Hogwarts Castle. While Avalanche Software hasn’t confirmed anything about the upcoming sequel, the news that Warner Bros. Games wants to heavily connect it to otherHarry Potterprojects is concerning.
ForHogwarts Legacy 2, rather than upping the stakes to world-ending events, the game should take a step back andre-focus on mystery and adventure within the school. Multiplayer, live-service, and apocalyptic stakes are totally unnecessary in the sequel, but with Warner Bros. Games' history, they seem all too likely.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs To Slim Down The Stakes
With a fictional setting like the Wizarding World, it’s easy to be drawn into ever-increasing stakes. Threats like dark wizards – which all lead inevitably to the rise of Voldemort – and cataclysmic ancient magic are tempting story elements to use to make a story feel important. ForHogwarts Legacy 2, however,world-ending stakes like these need to be avoided. Bigger isn’t always better, as the true appeal of these games is the time players spend asstudents attending Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Legacy 2doesn’t need to go full-blown cozy game, but at the same time, the sequel needs to stay grounded. Like the majority ofHarry Potterbooks proved, there are plenty ofinteresting stories to tell within the confines of the magical castle.
While nothing has been confirmed regarding the story for the sequel, the news that the game will betied into the upcoming HBOHarry PotterTV show is reason enough to believe the game might attempt to up the stakes and connect even more with the events of the main series.
We Don’t Need Hogwarts Legacy 2 Multiplayer
Live-Service Is Completely Unnecessary
At first glance, multiplayer seems very appealing forHogwarts Legacy 2,especially since so many players want to play online together, either toteam up in Quidditch matchesor battle it out with spells in the dueling club. The recent history of Warner Bros. published games withmultiplayer elements makes online play much less promising, withMortal Kombat 1as the prime example. The latest entry in the long-runningMKseries,MK1was riddled with microtransactions and has remained moderately unpopular since its release in 2023.
With the massive success ofHogwarts Legacy,both critically and financially, it makes sense that Warner Bros. Games would want to capitalize on the upcoming sequel by Avalanche Software. The main problem with this approach is thatWB is taking the wrong lesson fromHogwarts Legacy’s successand may just end up undermining everything that made the original game popular. The sequel does not need multiplayer; instead, it needs to bring players another engaging, single-player adventure at the wizarding school.
