Hogwarts Legacy was released to huge success, becoming the best-selling game of 2023 and earning a series of impressive accolades. Naturally, players would assume more content was on the way, but that never happened. Instead, fans were left a little unsure what to expect, only getting a few minor updates like a photo mode and, of course, the next-gen and Nintendo Switch versions. Fortunately, rumors have been circulating about the future of Hogwarts Legacyand to some, it seems brilliant.
Most notably, it was reported that Hogwarts Legacy it would finally have DLC, and quite considerable. To many, this may have seemed like a positive move, although in reality, it could end up being a negative thing. While there are a lot of things this DLC could introduce, it’s hard not to shake the feeling that it’s too little, too late. Hogwarts Legacy Frankly, it deserves more than just DLC at this pointwhat it really needs is a full sequel.
Explanation of the supposed Hogwarts Legacy DLC
The goal is to add 15 hours of new story content
THE Hogwarts Legacy DLC rumors are being described as more of a “Definitive” version of the base game. It’s reportedly adding 15 hours of new story contentbut what this entails has not yet been officially announced. Of course, there are many obvious stories that DLC could explore. Additionally, it will add a number of new features and additional gameplay mechanics, including new activities and side quests for players to complete.
The rumor initially came from Indoor Gameswho claimed that sources informed them that the DLC’s existence was intended to “reinforce Warner Bros.’s declining gaming revenue. following the poor performance of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.“It is not difficult to understand this reasoning as Suicide Squad the player base has all but disappeared despite semi-regular updates and new seasonal content. Considering how successful Hogwarts Legacy If so, it would be foolish for Warner Bros. Don’t try to capitalize on it.
However, it is worth noting that Hogwarts Legacy was released in February 2023 and since its release has had few significant updates nor any indication that there will be DLC. In fact, when launching the base game, the developers stated that there were no plans to Hogwarts Legacy DLC. This makes this rumor even more shocking and potentially bad for fans of the game. Although its existence has not yet been confirmed, it may have been a reactionary move by Warner Bros. which ends up hurting the brand in the long run.
Why Developers Should Focus on a Sequel Instead of DLC
This makes the wait for the next game longer
There are definitely cases where adding DLC to a game can help not only reinvigorate interest in that game and thus generate more sales, but also allow the developer to add new content or develop existing ideas in a way they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. the basic game. In the best case scenarios, DLCs act as experiences in their own right, offering something similar to the base game but with major improvementsnew ideas and enjoyable content. A good example of this is the Frozen Wilds DLC for Horizon Zero Dawnwhich fixed many issues in the base game.
However, DLC – in the context of narrative-driven single-player experiences like Hogwarts Legacy – it seems like it might be a thing of the past, especially when people take into account how long it takes to make modern AAA games. Considering that games are taking so long that Sony barely announces anything for fear of hyping their own games and seeing that hype die before the game even drops, devoting development time to DLC seems like a mistake. This significantly pushes back the sequel’s release datewhich in turn puts a lot of pressure on the DLC to perform well.
If the DLC fails as poorly received Starfield: Shattered Spaceso fans are left with a disappointing experience and the knowledge that they will have to wait even longer before the sequel is released.
However, if the DLC fails like the poorly received Starfield: Shattered Spaceso fans are left with a disappointing experience and the certainty that they will have to wait even longer for the sequel. It’s a lose-lose situation and it seems to be becoming more commonespecially with people becoming more aware of development costs and time. That’s not to say that developers should never try to make DLC, as there really has been some amazing DLC. However, developers must know when DLC is necessary and when it is better to throw in the towel and move on to the next project.
The definitive edition is a distraction
Hogwarts Legacy Should Be Treated As A Base For Sequel Expansion
Taking this into consideration, although many players are excited about Hogwarts Legacy: Definitive EditionIt’s possible that this drop in DLC will be more detrimental to the long-term success of Hogwarts Legacy. If the Definitive Edition turns out to be real, so it seems that at some point after release, plans were quickly changed and the decision was made to move on to making DLC rather than moving forward with a sequel. This means Avalanche may never have wanted to make DLC in the first placewhich isn’t a great indication of how the Definitive Edition might turn out.
While the Definitive Edition has the potential to fix many of the Hogwarts Legacy At its worst, the first game should really be seen as a springboard from which developers can create a far superior sequel.
Even though Avalanche always secretly planned on making DLC and potentially dedicated two years to its development – both The Witcher 3 Major expansions were released about a year after the base game’s release date – this means the sequel was delayed by a significant margin. This would be a real shame, because although the Definitive Edition has the potential to fix many of the Hogwarts Legacy worst aspects, the first game should really be seen as a springboard from which developers can create a far superior sequel.
It could, as mentioned above, be harmful as Those who are not interested in DLC will end up having to wait longer for a sequel to come out. While the Definitive Edition could generate new interest in the first game – even though it was already the best-selling game of 2023 – and serve as a temporary distraction, any enthusiasm for a sequel would eventually wane due to its delay. This also assumes the DLC sells well, which may not happen, especially since players haven’t been receptive to other re-releases, no matter how much new content they add.
It’s also very unusual for a modern game to get a Definitive Edition right after its release, especially when Avalanche isn’t acting like it doesn’t have the resources or funding to realize its vision the first time around. The whole situation is frankly a little strange, but of course, it remains to be seen whether it’s real in the first place. However, it should Hogwarts Legacy: Definitive Edition prove to be real, so fans may need to be prepared to wait a lot longer until the long-awaited sequel is released.
Source: Hogwarts Legacy/YouTube, Indoor Games