Hogwarts Legacy 2 World Change Mooted, AAA Title Be Gone
As anticipation builds for Hogwarts Legacy 2, a clear and persuasive demand is emerging from its most dedicated players. In contrast to the industry’s relentless push for bigger maps and more content, a significant portion of the community is now advocating for the sequel to reject modern AAA conventions in favor of a tighter, more intimate experience focused squarely on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The discussion, gaining momentum on forums like r/HarryPotterGame, stems from a common critique of the 2023 original. While praised for its magical atmosphere, many players felt the expansive Scottish Highlands surrounding Hogwarts were sparsely populated with repetitive Merlin trials, collection challenges, and enemy camps. This often pulled attention away from the castle itself, where fans most wanted to immerse themselves.
One fan articulated the sentiment clearly, stating, “One of the most common criticisms… is that we don’t spend nearly enough time at Hogwarts.” They argued that the drive for a vast open world—a standard AAA trope—resulted in a “lion’s share of the game spent running around the surrounding hillside, doing repetitive side s*it” instead of engaging in classes, spell-learning, and meaningful student interactions.
This post ignited widespread agreement. The consensus among commenting fans is that they would prefer a “lower budget, less massive, more focused AA game” that prioritizes depth and quality of interaction over sheer scale. Many expressed a desire for a experience akin to Bully—a game renowned for its deep simulation of school life—but set in Hogwarts, rather than another massive open-world RPG like Skyrim.
“I absolutely love the game for what it is,” one user concurred, “but I would like Bully in Hogwarts, not Skyrim (featuring Hogwarts).”
This player-led movement presents a fascinating challenge for developer Avalanche Software. The first game was a record-breaking commercial success, yet its community is now explicitly asking for a different, more concentrated design philosophy. It highlights a growing fatigue with expansive but empty worlds and a yearning for richer, more systemic interactions within a beloved setting.
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As development on the sequel continues under the potential new ownership of Netflix Games, the studio faces a pivotal choice: follow the standard AAA blueprint or heed the fans’ call for a magical, more focused return to the castle halls.