WithHogwarts Legacy 2officially announced, there has been rampant speculation from fans as to the content the second game will feature. Considering that the first entry was a dream come true for every Potterhead that grew up with the books and films, a sequel has understandably large shoes to fill. The first game promised to deliver fully realized versions of the most iconic locations from the series, namelyHogwarts castle and its neighboring Hogsmeade village. And while the team at Avalanche succeeded with flying colors at adapting both locales, there’s debate to be had as to how much these areas need to be retread in subsequent entries.
Hogwarts itself is almost certain to be at the center of any and all future games in the series. It’s the central location of the first game, the main selling point of the series, and, for better or worse, the school is at the beating heart of the entire Harry Potter universe. It’s not going anywhere. Hogsmeade, on the other hand, isn’t quite so essential. WhenHogwarts Legacy 2finally drops, there are strong arguments to be made for and against its inclusion as a major hub.
The Pros of a Hogsmeade in Hogwarts Legacy 2
Canonically, the Wizarding World’s Hogsmeade isn’t Going Anywhere
IfHogwarts is where aHogwarts Legacysequel is set, Hogsmeade will likely appear by default. The first game (as well as the rest of the series’ canon) has already firmly established that the school and the village are extremely close to each other, and within easy walking distance of a bunch of students.
If Hogwarts is in the game, it’s hard to justify Hogsmeade not making a return appearance because it is, quite literally, right next door. Plus,Hogsmeade is still around during the events ofHarry Potter. Unless a new game brings some huge retcon of the town being temporarily destroyed before being rebuilt or otherwise inaccessible, it is locked in place for another hundred years.
Hogsmeade is an Important Piece of the Hogwarts Experience
IfHogwarts Legacy 2wants to continue the trend of being theultimateHarry Pottersimulator, Hogsmeade needs to be a part of future installments for the simple reason that going to the village is a huge part of the culture of the school. It’s where the older students go to unwind and relax during their days off and is consequently the go-to off-campus hangout spot for all students in their third year and above.
The village is so important to Hogwarts iconography, in fact, thatHogsmeade is Universal’s primaryHarry Pottertheme park setting. It may not be wholly significant to all students, but trips to Hogsmeade are one of the core aspects of the student body’s social life, and to dismiss it in aHogwarts Legacy 2would be ignoring an essential part of the Hogwarts experience, the authenticity of which is what made the first game such a big hit with fans.
A Significant Time Jump Can Make Hogsmeade Look Very Different
At the time of writing,no plot details are available forHogwarts Legacy 2. This has left the timeframe of the sequel up for speculation. While most fans are assuming there will be some kind of time skip to further the narrative, exactly how long that time skip is remains completely up in the air. If it’s longer than five years, Hogwarts and Hogsmeade can look very different.
Time changes all people and places, and it stands to reason that Hogsmeade would be no different.A time skip inHogwarts Legacy 2could keep Hogsmeade different enough to remain interesting, but familiar enough to still be recognizable. It would save the developers the trouble of having to figure out how to make the same town from the first game interesting, engaging, and fun to explore again.
Of course, this comes with the small caveat of having to redesign Hogsmeade all over again, but working from the framework of the original layout and determining what would realistically change over time would be a much easier jumping off point than starting from scratch again.
The Cons of a Hogsmeade in Hogwarts Legacy 2
Hogsmeade Could Be Redundant in a Hogwarts Legacy 2
Probably the biggest argument against the village returning as a major location is how much of it would be retreading old territory. Most of what Avalanche can feasibly do with Hogsmeade in the context of a video game has already been done. It serves as a major meeting point for the player character and various NPCs throughout the first game, as well as housing a good number of shops to collect various items and potions from vendors, and thusHogwarts Legacy’s Hogsmeade is largely a merchant alley with collectibles.
Outside of that, there’s not much more that can be done in that setting without feeling like it’s an obligatory addition. The village is an important part of the lore, and it’s very closely connected with the school itself, butifHogwarts Legacy 2wants to break traditionand try new things, then going back to the same village with a population of
Hogsmeade Could Be Substituted with Diagon Alley in Hogwarts Legacy 2
In terms of pushing new territory, there’s another off-campus hub locale that is just as—if not more—iconic than Hogsmeade. Diagon Alley, while one of the most famous and beloved locations from the books and films, was almost completely absent from the original game, save for a quick trip toHarry Potter’s wizarding bank, Gringotts.
While series fans may be quick to point out that Diagon Alley is quite a ways away from the castle, that’s nothing the likes of Floo powder can’t fix, especially when the setting’s potential for an off-campus hub is so tempting. Diagon Alley has everything Hogsmeade has and then some; shops that can double as in-game vendors, NPCs that give quests, and even more iconic series mainstays like the Leaky Cauldron. What’s more is thatplayers favoring an evil playthrough ofHogwarts Legacy 2could feasibly indulge their darker side in Knockturn Alley, the home of some of the more sinister aspects of the Wizarding World.
