Hogwarts Legacylaunched to enormous success, becoming the best-selling game of 2023 and earning itself a number of impressive accolades. Naturally, players would assume that more content was on its way, but that never really transpired. Instead, fans were left a little in the dark about what to expect, just getting a few smaller updates like a photo mode and, of course, the last-gen and Nintendo Switch versions. Luckily, rumors have been circling about the future ofHogwarts Legacy, and to some, it seems bright.
Most notably, it was reported thatHogwarts Legacywould finally get DLC, and a fairly sizable one at that. To many, that may have seemed like a positive move, although, in reality, it may end up being a negative thing. While there are plenty of things this DLC could introduce, it’s hard not to shake the feeling that it is too little, too late.Hogwarts Legacyfrankly deserves more than just DLC at this point, what it really needs is a full-blown sequel.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Rumored DLC Explained
It’s Meant To Add 15 Hours Of New Story Content
TheHogwarts Legacyrumored DLC is currently being described as more of a “Definitive” version of the base game.It is allegedly adding 15 hours of new story content, but what that entails is yet to be officially announced. Of course, there are plenty ofobvious stories the DLC could explore. Additionally, it will add a host of new features and additional gameplay mechanics, including new activities and side quests for players to complete.
The rumor initially came fromInsider Gaming, which alleged that sources had informed them the existence of the DLC was intended to “bolster Warner Bros.’s diminishing gaming revenue following the weak performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.” It’s not hard to understand that reasoning asSuicide Squad’splayer base has all but vanished, even despite the semi-regular updates and new Seasonal content. Considering just how successfulHogwarts Legacywas, it would be foolish for Warner Bros. not to attempt to capitalize on it.
However, it’s worth noting thatHogwarts Legacywas released all the way back in February 2023 and, since its launch, has had few meaningful updates nor any indication that there will be DLC. In fact, upon releasing the base game,the developers stated that there wereno plans forHogwarts LegacyDLC. That makes this rumor all the more shocking and potentially a bad thing for fans of the game. While its existence is still yet to even be confirmed, it could have been a reactionary move from Warner Bros. that ends up hurting the brand in the long term.
It Makes The Wait For The Next Game Longer
There are definitely cases in which adding DLC to a game can help not only reinvigorate interest in that game and thus generate more sales, but also allow the developer to add in new content or flesh out existing ideas in a way that it couldn’t with the base game.In the best scenarios, DLCs act as their own experiences, offering something akin to the base game but with vast improvements, new ideas, and enjoyable content. A good example of this is theFrozen WildsDLC forHorizon Zero Dawn, which fixed a lot of the base game’s issues.
Hogwarts Legacy 2’s Best Setting Might Not Even Be Hogwarts
Hogwarts Legacy has a confirmed sequel, and while nothing else is yet known, it might be the perfect time to switch the focus to a new school.
However, DLC - in the context of narrative-driven single-player experiences likeHogwarts Legacy- feels like it may be a thing of the past, especially when people take into account just how long it takes to make modern triple-A games. Considering games are taking so long now thatSony barely announces anythingin fear of overhyping its own games and having that hype die before the game even drops, devoting development time to DLC seems like a mistake.It pushes the sequel’s release date significantly further away, which, in turn, puts a lot of pressure on the DLC to perform well.
If the DLC flops like the poorly receivedStarfield: Shattered Space, then fans are left with a disappointing experience and the knowledge that they have to wait even longer before the sequel comes out.
However, if the DLC flops like thepoorly receivedStarfield: Shattered Space, then fans are left with a disappointing experience and the knowledge that they have to wait even longer for the sequel.It’s a lose-lose situation that feels like it’s becoming more common, especially with people becoming more aware of development costs and time. That’s not to say that developers should never try to make DLC, as there have genuinely been some incredible DLC. However, developers should know when DLC is necessary, and when it is best to throw in the towel and move on to the next project.
The Definitive Edition Is A Distraction
Hogwarts Legacy Should Be Treated As A Foundation For The Sequel To Expand On
Taking that into account, while manyplayers are excited aboutHogwarts Legacy: Definitive Edition, it’s possible this DLC drop could be more harmful to the long-term success ofHogwarts Legacy. If theDefinitive Editionends up being real, then, it seems like, at some point post-launch, plans were quickly changed, and a decision was made to pivot to making DLC rather than progress to a sequel. That meansAvalanche may have potentially never wanted to make DLC in the first place, which isn’t a great indication of how the Definitive Edition may turn out.
While theDefinitive Editionhas the potential to fix many ofHogwarts Legacy’sworst aspects, the first game should really be seen as a stepping stone from which the developers can create a far superior sequel.
Even if it is the case that Avalanche always secretly had plans to make DLC and has dedicated potentially two years to its development - both ofThe Witcher 3’smajor expansions were released within roughly one year of the base game’s launch date - then that means the sequel has been pushed back by a significant margin. This would be a genuine shame as, while theDefinitive Editionhas the potential to fix many ofHogwarts Legacy’sworst aspects,the first game should really be seen as a stepping stone from which the developers can create a far superior sequel.
It could, as aforementioned, be harmful, asthose who aren’t interested in DLC will end up having to wait longer for a sequel to come out. While theDefinitive Editioncould generate new interest in the first game - although it was already thebest-selling game of 2023- and serve as a temporary distraction, any hype for a sequel would ultimately wane due to it being pushed back. This is also assuming that the DLC sells well, which it may not, especially asgamers haven’t been receptive to other re-releases, no matter how much new content they add.
10 New Spells Hogwarts Legacy 2 Must Include
With the announcement of Hogwarts Legacy 2, the developers have a chance to add some of the most iconic spells missing from the first game.
It is also very uncommon for a modern game to get aDefinitive Editionso soon after it has launched, especially when Avalanche is not acting as if it didn’t have the resources or funding to realize its vision the first time around. The whole situation is frankly a little strange, but, of course, it remains to be seen whether it’s real in the first place. However, shouldHogwarts Legacy: Definitive Editionprove to be the real deal, then fans may need to be prepared to wait a lot longer for the much-anticipated sequel to drop.
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.
