Why Hogwarts Legacy Fans Could Be In for the Best of Both Worlds

Summary

Hogwarts Legacy 2 will be a single-player and story-driven sequel, not a live-service game.
Warner Bros. is open to a live-service Hogwarts Legacy in the future, keeping possibilities open.
Fans can expect a continuation of the rich, single-player experience with future potential for different gameplay models.

When Hogwarts Legacy launched in 2023, it fulfilled a fantasy many Harry Potter and fantasy fans alike had been holding onto for years: the chance to attend Hogwarts as a student, explore the castle and its sprawling grounds, and become the witch or wizard they’ve always dreamed of being in the Wizarding World. It didn’t just fulfill the dreams of fans, though, as it also fulfilled the dreams of its developer, Avalanche Software, as it went on to become one of the best-selling video games of all time, having sold over 30 million copies as of October of last year.

Given the massive success of Hogwarts Legacy, it’s only natural that it would continue to chart its path forward for a sequel. The main fork in that path, however, has long been whether Hogwarts Legacy should continue to be the story-driven, single-player experience the first game was or adopt a live-service model, as many games have done over the last decade. As it turns out, wherever Hogwarts Legacy goes from here, it seems like fans may get the best of both worlds, regardless of their preference for live-service games or otherwise.

Hogwarts Legacy 2’s Best Path to Being a Deeper RPG Is Obvious

Hogwarts Legacy 2 should strive to polish the original’s combat mechanics, and there could be a relatively straight path to this solution.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Future Is Straightforward But Still Open to Live-Service

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Will Reportedly Be a Single-Player, Story-Driven Sequel

Hogwarts Legacy fans who feared the sequel would venture into live-service territory may be able to put those fears to rest as Jason Schreier, a highly reliable industry insider with direct ties to Warner Bros., recently stated that Hogwarts Legacy 2 would not be a live-service game. In a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games, Schreier disclosed that Hogwarts Legacy 2 would not be a live-service game in any way, and that any comments that suggested that was merely a way for Warner Bros. to appeal to the interests of shareholders.

Wherever Hogwarts Legacy goes from here, it seems like fans may get the best of both worlds, regardless of their preference for live-service games or otherwise.

Fortunately for those who have learned not to trust the live-service model, this means Hogwarts Legacy 2 will most likely be the single-player, story-driven sequel they always wanted, which could mean a world, gameplay, and story that are of higher quality than they might have been under a live-service model. There is still a chance that Hogwarts Legacy 2 could have microtransactions, but a full live-service model seems like it’s out of the question for the next entry in the Hogwarts Legacy franchise.

Warner Bros. Is Still Not Closed Off to the Idea of a Live-Service Hogwarts Legacy

That being said, Schreier also intimated in the interview that Warner Bros. is still not closed off to the idea of a live-service Hogwarts Legacy game in the future. Since Hogwarts Legacy is only a couple of years old now, it might be too soon to introduce a live-service sequel, lest Avalanche and Warner Bros. risk killing their latest prize possession before it has a chance to really become something great. Even so, the fact that Warner Bros. hasn’t completely shut the door on the idea that Hogwarts Legacy could someday be a live-service game means that fans of such games, and those who would prefer a live-service Hogwarts Legacy, might actually get one someday.

For now, many fans can rest easily knowing that Hogwarts Legacy 2 is most likely going to stay true to the rich, single-player experience rooted in exploration and storytelling that made the original game so beloved. But with Warner Bros. still leaving the door open for a live-service installment down the line, it’s clear that Hogwarts Legacy‘s future could take multiple forms. Whether players want to relive the classic Hogwarts journey or engage in a more evolving experience later on, the path ahead is full of possibilities.