Whenever Hogwarts Legacy 2 releases, it will have a gargantuan task ahead of it: it will need to live up to the expectations of the first game’s massive fanbase while making meaningful improvements. This will be no easy feat, as Avalanche Software will need to perform a balancing act between adhering to the first Hogwarts Legacy‘s reputation and innovating in a manner appropriate for an ambitious, big-budget sequel.
While there are definitely weak spots that Hogwarts Legacy 2 can improve upon, Avalanche should also remember its successes, as buttressing them can make the sequel as strong as possible. The base game was released in great shape, but post-launch updates have helped it get closer to its full potential: ongoing support for Hogwarts Legacy 2 has resulted in an experience that is generally smoother, sharper, and less buggy than it was at launch. While rumors about more significant post-launch updates, like free content expansions, have unfortunately not come to fruition, one significant post-launch upgrade is worth focusing on as Avalanche Software starts chipping away at Hogwarts Legacy 2.
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Hogwarts Legacy’s Sequel Should Go All or Nothing on Quidditch
The omission of quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy is definitely puzzling, leaving a gaping hole for the inevitable sequel to fill.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Get Official Mod Support from Day One
Robust Mod Support Could Make Hogwarts Legacy 2 a Sight To Behold from the Jump
Like so many expansive RPGs, Hogwarts Legacy has received mods that elevate immersion, increase performance on high-end rigs, expand customization, and inject a sense of absurdity for those seeking it. Indeed, the game has proven to be consistently moddable, and it’s become even more so since official mod support was added this January. Thanks to this patch, it’s easier than ever for modders to toy around with Hogwarts Legacy’s components, and it’s also easier to access mods thanks to an integrated mod downloader.
This is a smart move by Avalanche, as a flourishing modding scene can often help a game maintain its relevance while the developer works on the next entry. One only needs to look at Bethesda’s RPGs for evidence of this: games like Oblivion and Skyrim retain consistently high numbers of active players, and a major reason for this is Bethesda’s friendly relationship with the modding community. In essence, making it easier to both create and download mods nourishes an evolving, active fanbase, which is a resource more precious than gold when it comes to franchise-building.
If Hogwarts Legacy 2 were to feature official mod support at launch, it could rapidly grow in visibility and popularity from the outset, with attention-grabbing mods effectively serving as free advertisement. More important from the players’ perspective is the impact this would have on the gaming experience long-term: with more time to devise ambitious mods, the Hogwarts Legacy 2 modding scene could evolve into something robust and multifaceted, possibly playing host to major overhauls or unofficial expansions like those released for games like Fallout 4.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Make Mods Available on Consoles
At the time of writing, official mod support is only available on the PC version of Hogwarts Legacy. This is understandable, but also a bit disappointing considering the game’s sizable community on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch. To make yet another Bethesda comparison, Hogwarts Legacy 2 could benefit greatly from the console-based mod support seen in the likes of Fallout 4 and Skyrim, not limiting such features to the PC crowd.
Hogwarts Legacy was tasked with pleasing a lot of people. The more casual crowd that loves Harry Potter may have just been looking for a smooth gaming experience set against the Wizarding World background; more hardcore audiences may have hoped for a deeper RPG; other groups were likely wishing for something in between. When casting such a wide net, it’s impossible to please everyone, but with official mod support on both PC and console, Hogwarts Legacy 2 could get closer to that lofty goal.
Hogwarts Legacy
9/10
- Released
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February 10, 2023
- ESRB
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T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 4
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