Knowing how much content Avalanche is ambitiously adding to its open-world action-RPG Hogwarts Legacy, it is not surprising that it needed to abandon other desirable features. Because of how many teasers and gameplay showcases there have been for the game at this point, it feels like WB Games Avalanche has only scratched at the surface of how much content Hogwarts Legacy has. At the same time, it seems like a lot has been depicted, if only subliminally. Thankfully, fans know about a few of the features that they should not expect to experience in Hogwarts Legacy, and might see in a sequel one day.
It is fortunate that the developer has been intentionally transparent about certain features not being added. If fans went into Hogwarts Legacy believing they could play Quidditch, for example, they would be sorely mistaken, which could quickly have tarnished their experience with the game. Either way, it is incredible that Hogwarts Legacy will let players explore Hogsmeade and other environments around the castle, and even though certain features will not be available in the game, there is always a chance that they could appear in a future sequel.
Gameplay Features Confirmed Not to Appear in Hogwarts Legacy
There are now a few features Hogwarts Legacy has admitted to omitting that could have serviced gameplay in monumental ways. Of course, Quidditch not being playable in Hogwarts Legacy is one of its most significant omissions, though Quidditch is not necessarily paramount to students’ experiences at Hogwarts. Quidditch would have required a much more elaborate broom flight system with gameplay mechanics not seen in the open-world otherwise, such as hurling a Quaffle through an opponent’s hoops or bashing an NPC with a Bludger; this all would have added much more development time.
Further, Gobstones and Wizard’s Chess have been addressed and will be omitted as playable features, though they are also referenced throughout Hogwarts Legacy. These leisurely games could have been Hogwarts Legacy’s iteration on an open-world game’s engaging mini-game, such as Gwent, Orlog, or Machine Strike from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Horizon Forbidden West respectively. Having these features referenced and teased in Hogwarts Legacy may leave a sour taste for purist fans, but that could make the idea of a potential sequel that much more exciting.
Hogwarts Legacy Can Hang Onto These Features for a Sequel
Hogwarts Legacy is not out until February, and therefore it may seem absurd to already be thinking about a sequel. However, because there are already features that fans know will be omitted from it, Hogwarts Legacy will have those features to consider for a potential sequel, and could make them a priority if fans express that they want them to appear.
This way, fans who are disappointed that Hogwarts Legacy will not feature playable Quidditch may be even more excited about a sequel if they knew it would finally be able to add it. The sequel would likely be able to add onto Hogwarts Legacy’s open-world action-RPG foundations with a full castle already built, meaning that it would have more leg-room in development to add features that Avalanche knows fans longed for in Hogwarts Legacy.
Some fans hope to see these features sometime after the base game releases, such as if a Triwizard Tournament expansion is added in post-launch DLC. There is no word yet on whether Hogwarts Legacy will have post-launch DLC, but it may be preferable for Avalanche to wait and release all this new content as features in a fully fledged Hogwarts Legacy sequel in the future instead.
Hogwarts Legacy releases February 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch version is also in development.