Hogwarts Legacy has been defined by some fans as the ultimate Harry Potter game because it's not only an open-world adventure, but it's also an RPG about life in Hogwarts at its core, and it's filled with magical elements to enhance the experience. While there have been many video games based on the Harry Potter franchise in the past, what Hogwarts Legacy seems to do right is the exciting mix of magic duels and exploration, with the latter also focusing on Hogwarts' own secrets. A great example of this logic comes from the recent trailers where the main character is seen talking to Sebastian Sallow, a fellow student from Slytherin who wants to use an Unforgivable Curse to open up the family mausoleum.
In the Dark Arts trailer for Hogwarts Legacy, it's further revealed that players do have choices when interacting with potential companions and possibly other major characters in the overarching story, and they can also choose what kind of magicians they want to be. This is achieved with multiple choices in dialogues and the ability to learn exclusive spells, including the Dark Arts and Unforgivable Curses, based on those very choices. The idea is that the game is a roleplaying game through and through, from the selection of one's House to companions, and everything in between. As such, it's sad to see Quidditch left out of Hogwarts Legacy.
Why Quidditch Would Have Been Perfect For Companions in Hogwarts Legacy
Since Hogwarts Legacy is being pushed as a classic RPG, aside from the setting, having Quidditch could have been great to make it a bonding experience for the main character and companions, for example. Players could have gone to the big Quidditch matches of their chosen companion's House and just spend time with them, cheering on their team, and making conversation with them or even other side characters.
Alternatively, facing potential Hogwarts Legacy companions in a match could lead to further character development and multiple choices for players, such as showing sportsmanship when winning or comforting the potential companion if they lose. Quidditch is also a big part of the House Cup competition, and it could have been used to motivate players to get enough points by playing and doing other side-quests to win the prize. It also seems that selecting a specific House at the start of the game will provide players with unique interactions with the potential companion of the same House, and thus Quidditch could have helped achieve a similar outcome.
How Quidditch Could Have Enhanced the Focus on RPG in Hogwarts Legacy
Outside of the companion storylines, playable Quidditch in Hogwarts Legacy could have also had another classic RPG feature: choosing the players' own team members from a range of characters. While this could have been a complex addition to an already ambitious game such as this, playing as the captain of their House's Quidditch team and determining who plays in each match could have been a major selling point for Hogwarts Legacy. For example, it could have been a great occasion for players to showcase their potion-brewing skills, crafting concoctions to improve the team's performance in important matches.
After all, even the Harry Potter movies feature some magic spells and potions in Quidditch matches, although it's not something most Gryffindors would allow. Still, it makes sense for Hogwarts Legacy to cut Quidditch because of the many development-related intricacies such an addition could have likely brought about. There are also issues with real-life Quidditch changing its name due to J.K. Rowling's transphobic stance, so not including it is probably a wise thing to do. Overall, Hogwarts Legacy's RPG elements could have benefited from Quidditch being included, but that doesn't mean the base game won't be good without it.
Hogwarts Legacy releases on February 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. A Switch version is also in development.
