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The Potential Drawback of Turning Hogwarts Legacy into an Anthology Series

Exploring the challenges and risks of transforming Hogwarts Legacy into an anthology series.
The Potential Drawback of Turning Hogwarts Legacy into an Anthology Series

Highlights

  • Transforming Hogwarts Legacy into an anthology series runs the risk of feeling repetitive and stale without careful handling and diverse storytelling eras.
  • A sequel to Hogwarts Legacy would need significant changes and a unique approach to avoid being perceived as a mere reskin or enhanced DLC in the same wizarding world.
  • The anthology approach for Hogwarts Legacy would require diverse eras to maintain freshness and avoid creative bankruptcy.

Hogwarts Legacy expanding into a series was inevitable given the monumental success of the open-world action-RPG. However, there are numerous challenges for Avalanche or any other developers to navigate when considering a sequel, whether it's connected to Hogwarts Legacy or not. The potential for a direct sequel featuring Hogwarts Legacy's Ancient Magic-wielding protagonist presents its own set of pitfalls to overcome. Even if it doesn't, it would still need to pay homage to the original story in a meaningful way.

However, the most significant drawback of a Hogwarts Legacy 2 could be if it sets the series as an anthology. This approach would imply that every future installment will be an independent story with its own characters in the same wizarding world. While this has been achieved in other gaming media, consecutive games that are not direct sequels in the wizarding world may lead to a pitfall that is hard to avoid. For Hogwarts Legacy, crafting an anthology set at Hogwarts that doesn't feel repetitive or stale would be quite challenging.

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Starting an Anthology Runs the Risk of Creative Bankruptcy

The Similarity of Hogwarts Legacy's Sequels

With a direct sequel, Hogwarts Legacy 2 could be intriguing as it continues the story. However, in an anthology series, the sequel might seem like another student's journey at Hogwarts, potentially mirroring the same experiences. Without careful handling, an anthological entry could appear as a recycled take on Hogwarts Legacy rather than a distinct narrative in the same world.

This might also be the case with a direct sequel, but at least it would make sense for much of the sequel to be similar to its predecessor if it takes place soon after those events. There would need to be significant improvements to gameplay and a noticeable transformation in the appearance of locations to make Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the Highlands dynamic, which an anthology entry set around the same time might not offer.

Diverse Eras for Hogwarts Legacy as an Anthology

An anthology series for Hogwarts Legacy could work if it features unique eras in each installment. For instance, while Harry Potter was a more modern perspective of the wizarding world, it could be intriguing to position Hogwarts Legacy 2 between the two eras. However, this approach has its downside, as delving too far from the established lore and aesthetic nostalgia of the franchise could alienate fans.

The late-1800s setting of Hogwarts Legacy worked well, providing the school with a familiar yet archaic atmosphere. It seems inevitable for Hogwarts to be featured in the next Harry Potter open-world action-RPG, especially with the new Max Harry Potter series reviving that nostalgia. Therefore, the successor to Avalanche's Hogwarts Legacy will face significant challenges.

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