Part of why the Hogwarts Legacy controversies are so divisive is because there are many fans who only want to relive the nostalgia of their youth with an immersive action-RPG set in an IP they adore. The author of that IP has made statements that are obviously inexcusable and reprehensible, but Avalanche Software has arguably done an incredible job of separating its take on the wizarding world from J.K. Rowling’s own in interesting ways. Of course, Hogwarts Legacy takes place in the same wizarding world and features its iconography, but what makes it unique is its fresh narrative.
Regardless of what people believe and which stance they take toward Rowling, Hogwarts Legacy can be seen as its own piece of the overall lore with particular stamps on it that craft a new identity. It might be impossible to fully rip the IP out from under Rowling, and therefore it may never be dissociated from such controversy, but featuring LGBT characters like Sirona Ryan and Mirabel Garlick is certainly a step in the right direction for Avalanche. On a broader level, Hogwarts Legacy’s entire Ancient Magic mystery is what makes it the most distinct and memorable by the end, not the titular school.
How Hogwarts Legacy Separates Itself from Nostalgia
It would have been easy for Avalanche to simply give players an immersive experience identically resembling the ones they have seen from Harry Potter. The castle itself is full of iconic corridors and landmarks that fans of the books and movies will notice, and Avalanche made it large and expansive enough to fill an entire action-RPG on its own.
However, Hogwarts is only about a third of the overall open-world map players get to freely explore. On top of that, Hogwarts Legacy’s Ancient Magic plot has almost nothing to do with Hogwarts itself besides having its Ancient Magic repository stored beneath it. Otherwise, players locate pensieve chambers for intermittent Keeper Trials throughout the open-world Highlands, and many side quests and activities take place far from Hogwarts as players journey south along the island’s coast.
It is in all these regions and dungeons where players are able to forget about what makes Harry Potter popular and concentrate instead on what makes Hogwarts Legacy refreshing. If Hogwarts Legacy did not take those steps to elaborate on the experience, there would be nothing separating it from the IP, and it would be much more difficult to make those important delineations in its narrative.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Narrative Proves the IP Can Feel Fresh
Hogwarts Legacy’s Ancient Magic is completely new to the franchise and as such it allows the game to feel like its own piece of the canon for fans to appreciate. Hogwarts Legacy shares many similarities with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, such as the fact that it is in its own little lore bubble with an atmosphere and tone that is rarely depicted in the franchise. Environments being diverse also help each game feel unique, with both Hogwarts Legacy and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order portraying the ruins of archaic dungeons and catacombs.
Hogwarts Legacy’s most impressive moments are when it eschews from the wizarding world’s iconography and treads new ground, and although Niamh Fitzgerald’s Keeper Trial is entirely a fan service sequence with the Deathly Hallows, the narrative is poignant and engaging on its own. In this way, it would be incredible to see future games in the IP take the same approach in attempting to be as unique and distant from Harry Potter as possible for their own sake.
Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One ports are scheduled to release on May 5, and the Nintendo Switch version arrives July 25, 2023.
