Hogwarts Legacy is highly anticipated, despite complications in development. Now delayed to 2023, the Avalanche Software project is exciting to those who find comfort in the Harry Potter stories, and while film tie-ins have made headway in the video game space, none have been quite as ambitious as this. All eyes are on the title, and while the Salt Lake City-based outfit has a recent resume heavily dominated by Disney Infinity, taking on the Harry Potter name is a mightier task to undertake, perhaps more so than any of its previous works. Attention to detail will be key, as the wizarding world is packed with beloved locations and intriguing storylines.
Though Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will take center stage in the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy, there's much more out there in the wider lore that Harry Potter presents. From the towering terrors of Azkaban to the snug, homely streets of Godric's Hollow, the property has done so well to craft a world outside the castle walls. The titular school will be at the heart of Hogwarts Legacy's story and world-building, but Avalanche Software taking advantage of the weird and wonderful places from the mind of author J.K. Rowling can only help to make the project feel more authentic and rewarding to fans of the IP.
Hogsmeade's History is Perfect for Hogwarts Legacy
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Hogwarts may be known for its impressive spires and endless corridors. Hogsmeade is humbler, but no less important. A charming little village a stone's throw away from the castle, Hogsmeade is a wizard-centric town that hosts plenty of magic shops and curious citizens like Madam Puddifoot. It's entirely non-muggle, and as such is able to cater to magic-folk exclusively. To bring Hogwarts Legacy to a location so different from the school has the potential to work wonders for the game's storytelling and atmosphere, as it is a stark difference in feeling from the gray, stoic, and purpose-built halls of Hogwarts.
However, not all is picturesque in Hogsmeade, as it's also the village in which the Shrieking Shack stands. It's an ominous building that was erected so that Remus Lupin had somewhere to hide during his monthly werewolf transformations, and as such has built a reputation for its eerie presence and unsettling nature. Like Diagon Alley, which has darkness lurking beneath its uplifting aura, the Shrieking Shack is a blemish on an otherwise lovely place.
Hogwarts' Familiarity Means Hogsmeade is Essential
As iconic in fiction as Arkham Asylum and Minas Tirith, Hogwarts has been at the heart of the franchise for years, and so it has quickly become a familiar place for fans. The Grand Staircase and the Gryffindor common room are remembered by fans who have read the books and seen the films, so while Hogwarts Legacy will surely provide its own take on the structures, they would have to be radically different to what came before in order to truly surprise audiences of the game and pre-existing fans of the property. It's simply too recognizable to provoke the same sense of wonderment as the likes of The Witcher 3's Nilfgaard or Red Dead Redemption 2's Saint Denis.
Hogsmeade is rarely used as a place to push the main story further along. It's an important location in Harry Potter, but is usually presented in a way that makes it perfect for moments of memorable character development rather than essential storytelling, so it's less well-known to those who care only about the main storyline. In the films there are plenty of scenes that take place in Hogsmeade that could easily have unfolded anywhere else, and so Hogwarts Legacy has the opportunity to bring a deep sense of identity to the village that is far from familiar to most players.
In Hogwarts Legacy Atmosphere is Key
While the tone of Hogwarts itself is rigid, historic, secretive, and often dangerous, that isn't the case for the rest of the wizarding world that surrounds it. The Chamber of Secrets and the Room of Requirement may be the tip of the curious iceberg that is the school, yet the humble nature of Hagrid's abode or the delightfully makeshift home of the Weasleys makes Harry Potter a license that does so well to blend a myriad of narrative and atmospheric vibes. Times of great peril are matched with a setting or location that best brings out the tension of the event, and conversely places like Hogsmeade are perfect when there are moments of downtime. For Hogwarts Legacy to include the village implies that Avalanche Software knows this, and so it's a relief to know that it's unlikely the game will have a dense, brooding tone throughout.
Hogsmeade does, of course, have its fair share of mystery, and Hogwarts Legacy will explore it through side quests. To have locations so radically different in style and mood would make the game's sprawling map feel disconnected, meaning there has to be some level of overlap, yet the fundamental aura of Hogsmeade should remain intact. A horror-ish side quest could greatly add to the village's spirit by upsetting the apple cart, but too many more would destroy it entirely. In a game all about mystery and intrigue, it's important to have a place that offers respite, and for Harry and his friends as well as players in 2023, Hogsmeade could, and should be the perfect opportunity to achieve this.
Hogwarts Legacy's deceptive name may imply that the school itself is the only important setting to get right. While it's undoubtedly the title's focal point, the surrounding areas like The Great Lake, The Forbidden Forest, and Hogsmeade vital components to the series' lore, and as such need to feel like more than just a big body of water, a haphazard collection of branches, and a small, insignificant village. Getting Hogsmeade right could be crucial to ensuring Hogwarts remains interesting throughout Hogwarts Legacy, and Avalanche Software including the quirky little village is cause for so much excitement.
Hogwarts Legacy releases February 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch version is also in development.