The massive popularity of Hogwarts Legacy may not come as a surprise, as the recently released title provides one of the most comprehensive and detailed portrayals of the Harry Potter universe that fans have ever seen. While a title such as this would have already captured the attention of many, it must be said that the accompanying controversy around the franchise's creator and Hogwarts Legacy's themes has also raised the profile of the project. In spite of this controversy, or perhaps because of it, the game sold massively within its first two weeks.
Many were speculating what the sales data for Hogwarts Legacy may look like with roughly a month after release, and Warner Bros. Recently released some concrete figures. This popularity for Hogwarts Legacy spells good news for the future of the franchise and other potential titles down the line, but it may also have an impact on the severity of the controversy that these future projects would face.
Hogwarts Legacy's Latest Sales Figures Speak to the Future of the Franchise
While expectations were high for the success that would come from Hogwarts Legacy's early sales, Warner Bros. Interactive revealed that Hogwarts Legacy sold 12 million copies in just its first two weeks, amounting to $850 million in sales. This paints Hogwarts Legacy as a huge financial success, especially so early into the title's life. These figures undoubtedly herald good news for the future of Hogwarts Legacy and other Harry Potter video game adaptations, although the lingering controversy that surrounds the franchise may be amplified by the heights of Legacy.
The wider Harry Potter franchise has been embroiled in controversy for some time, primarily around transphobic comments made by franchise creator J.K. Rowling. This controversy extends to any projects that come under the Harry Potter name, with Hogwarts Legacy arguably being the most hotly protested franchise entity to date. It can most clearly be seen through streamers who have been bombarded by comments from angry fans when trying to play on platforms like Twitch.
The negative sentiment regarding Hogwarts Legacy is significant, with many fans and even streamers staging a boycott as to not support the franchise's living creator. Despite this, the released sales figures for Legacy indicate a success that may spur an even more intense level of criticism for future projects. With Hogwarts Legacy already confirmed to have made over $850 million, it is likely there will be a spate of future Harry Potter titles of a similar scale, which will be just as high-profile as Hogwarts Legacy.
These games will inexorably experience the same boycotts and criticisms that Legacy continues to face, with Legacy acting as a tangible example of what might be amplified for any future projects to have more of an impact. From the franchise's perspective, the massive financial success of Hogwarts Legacy is a blessing that secures the future of any similar adaptations. However, it is likely that critiques of these titles will be proportionately higher as a result.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4, Xbox One, and Switch versions are currently in development.