Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player experience, but it is only a matter of time before multiplayer possibilities emerge. Although there's no confirmation whether Hogwarts Legacy is getting DLC in the future, there are both obvious and less-considered opportunities for competitive and cooperative play. Although there is understandable controversy surrounding the game, it has received largely positive reviews so far, with many no doubt hoping for future content to continue their adventures.
A modding community is currently answering the call with a Hogwarts Legacy multiplayer mod in the works called "HogWarp." The potential to team up with friends in this beloved magical setting is an exciting prospect, and the fan-driven effort shows Avalanche Software's potential to expand its multiplayer opportunities.
Competitive and Co-Op Multiplayer Sports in Hogwarts Legacy
Perhaps the most obvious place for multiplayer in Hogwarts Legacy is Quidditch matches, though there is a story reason behind the lack of in-game Quidditch. Still, players can fly a broom and unlock Quidditch gear cosmetic rewards through challenges like Landing Platforms. Magical sports and competitions like Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy could include cooperative and competitive elements using existing features like flight rings or popping balloons.
Wand duels are another area that could include multiplayer features. In Hogwarts Legacy, players get to experience competitive wand dueling, where they try to win Crossed Wands. It could be fun to test spell-casting combos against friends through solo or team matches, and competitive wand duels don't have to be limited to Hogwarts if the game's playable space expands to include other schools like Uagadou.
Opportunities For Multiplayer Exploration in Hogwarts Legacy
Although there's no official multiplayer in Hogwarts Legacy, players can experience a similar feeling through side quests with their chosen NPC companions. Despite the popularity of these companions, it could feel even more rewarding to explore the world and take down enemies with real-life friends. However, any multiplayer mode would need to consider how this might affect gameplay balance, a problem that some players might already encounter with some of Hogwarts Legacy's overpowered spell combos.
In addition to battling enemies, exploring Hogwarts Legacy's immense detail together could form a significant part of the experience. Many players may likely come across the group of kite flyers in front of Hogwarts Castle in the morning, and while this isn't something players can currently do in Hogwarts Legacy's open world, their inclusion in the game could prompt other fun downtime activities outside the main story quests and classes. In a world filled with magic, there's almost unlimited creative potential.
Joint Puzzles and Spell Casting in Hogwarts Legacy
Another area the developers might want to expand in potential Hogwarts Legacy sequels are puzzle mechanics, particularly if multiplayer is added into the mix. The game already includes an array of puzzles, such as arithmancy door puzzles and the often challenging Merlin Trials. Although players could work together to solve these, a multiplayer mode might offer puzzles explicitly focused on teamwork akin to Portal 2. The inclusion of cooperative puzzles could also be reflective of the obstacles the main Harry Potter heroes solve together, such as when Harry, Ron, and Hermione play an enlarged game of chess in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
Hogwarts Legacy already includes some epic enemy takedowns or finisher moves involving Ancient Magic, and the ability to summon multiple enemies simultaneously. However, multiplayer opens the door for teamwork in spell-casting encounters. An example from the movies might be when Newt and his brother Theseus defend themselves against Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. This could add variety to combat and rectify the way Hogwarts Legacy doesn't capitalize on spells. Through multiplayer, fans could include a wider range of spells across their team's arsenal. However, if multiplayer is included in potential sequels or DLC, it's probably best to keep player choice in mind to avoid imposing mechanics like quick-time events.
Multiplayer is one of many possible things that could appear in a Hogwarts Legacy sequel. If multiplayer options appear through modding or potential future content, there are a lot of issues to consider around the gameplay experience and balance. However, multiplayer could keep players hooked longer and help increase its overall replayability.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4, Xbox One, and Switch versions are currently in development.