Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions was announced recently as a standalone multiplayer spin-off centered around the titular sport. This game came seemingly out of nowhere and features a distinct, cartoonish art style reminiscent of Fortnite. It is clear from the art style alone that Quidditch Champions is its own unique title and not associated with another Harry Potter game, though fans will surely be pleased to see another Quidditch-related game in development. Coincidentally, Quidditch Champions seems to offer precisely what Hogwarts Legacy could not.
Hogwarts Legacy is an ambitious action-RPG that simulates the role of a fifth-year student at Hogwarts in the 1800s. There are diverse combat mechanics, elaborate customization in the Room of Requirement, and a massive open-world to explore in the Scottish Highlands. However, fans have always felt like something was missing from Hogwarts Legacy with Quidditch being absent. Of anything to omit, it makes sense that Hogwarts Legacy left Quidditch on the cutting room floor, and Quidditch Champions’ announcement now seems like it might have been a reason why.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Lack of Quidditch Seems More Clear Now with Quidditch Champions Revealed
Not much has been revealed about Unbroken Studios’ Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions thus far, though more will be shared soon with a limited playtest scheduled for April 21–April 22 that fans can sign up to be a part of now. In the meantime, it seems like ironic timing for a Quidditch game to appear out of thin air not long after Hogwarts Legacy has launched.
The fact that Hogwarts Legacy does not have Quidditch has been a disappointment to many fans, but there is even a narrative reason as to why, which the game addresses. Quidditch is effectively canceled in Hogwarts Legacy’s present school year due to reasons that are redacted involving a pure-blood student’s injury, which the nurse on-staff reports as being absurd.
This is a great way to make its omission relevant in the narrative, but it is still unfortunate that it was omitted nonetheless. Instead, players can still mount a broomstick and use it as a primary traversal method in the open-world alongside a Hippogriff, Thestral, or Graphorn. Moreover, players can compete in individual, timed races that take place in distinct parts of the world, using these time trials as ways to gain subsequent broomstick upgrades. Broomsticks can also be customized and given new skins, and the amount of thought and consideration that went into flight or racing seems to suggest that Quidditch was once planned to be in development for Hogwarts Legacy.
There could be a number of reasons why Quidditch was not featured as a mini-game in Hogwarts Legacy, though it seems now like it might have been omitted in order for Quidditch Champions to have the sport all to itself. Indeed, making fans wait a little bit longer for a dedicated, multiplayer Quidditch game might have been the plan all along, and if Hogwarts Legacy had its own Quidditch, that could have taken away from Quidditch Champions since it revolves around the sport exclusively.
Quidditch Champions will need to make up for everything fans wanted from Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy, and having its own separate game entirely could end up being a brilliant way to accentuate it. That said, Quidditch Champions will hopefully not deter a Hogwarts Legacy sequel or DLC from introducing its own Quidditch in the future since that would help to complete the overall feeling of immersion in the action-RPG’s wizarding world.
Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions is in development for PC and unspecified consoles.