It has been two years since Hogwarts Legacy was released. It has captured the hearts of players worldwide, becoming one of the most successful games in recent memory. Its open-world design, attention to detail, and immersion make a person feel like a true part of the Harry Potter experience, which no other game in the franchise has ever been able to do before.

Despite its clear success, Hogwarts Legacy has yet to release any major expansions or DLC. While the game continues to thrive, its potential for long-term engagement through additional content has remained largely untapped. Many players wonder what could have been, and why, with such a success, there is no DLC. There may be a simple explanation.

Hogwarts Legacy Seemingly Smashed Expectations

30 Million Copies Sold, & The Best-Selling Game Of 2023

Hogwarts Legacy has proven to be a massive success. Immediately post-launch, it was clear that the game would be popular, but no one could have expected how record-breaking it would become. Since its release, the game has sold over 30 million copies, and was the controversies surrounding Harry Potter's creator post- and pre-launch. This level of success was something few could have predicted, especially when compared to the mixed history of previous Harry Potter games.

Aside from the Harry Potter controversies, there was also skepticism about whether the Hogwarts Legacy game would truly deliver. While the Harry Potter franchise is one of the biggest in the world, previous games failed to capture the full magic of the wizarding world. Yet, the developers proved the doubters wrong by creating something truly special. Hogwarts Legacy introduced a massive open world filled with groundbreaking details that made players feel like real Hogwarts students. The scale and depth of the game set it apart from previous attempts. Hogwarts Legacy has become a standout RPG in recent years.

Despite the excitement for the game, the developer and publisher were caught off guard by its success; Warner Bros. Games did not expect Hogwarts Legacy to do as well as it did. In fact, according to Insider Gaming, the game outperformed expectations by an impressive margin, selling 256% more than predicted. The demand for a high-quality Harry Potter game was much stronger than initially anticipated. Despite its success, the game didn't come with a major post-launch content roap, pointing to the fact that Warner Bros. didn't fully anticipate how players would want to stay engaged in the world.

Given how well the game has done, it's no surprise that Warner Bros. would be looking for new ways to capitalize on its success. Rumors of extra content coming to Hogwarts Legacy suggest the company has recognized the game's long-term potential. It's unfortunate for fans that expansions weren't originally in the pipeline, but for now, the game stands as a major surprise with plenty of potential for follow-up content.

Warner Bros. Chose The Wrong Games For Ongoing

Warner Bros. Prioritized Games With Microtransactions

Despite Hogwarts Legacy's massive success, Warner Bros. seems to have put its focus elsewhere when it comes to long-term . Instead of building on the hype of its best-selling game, the publisher prioritized other titles. However, these other games have struggled with mixed reviews. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was meant to be a live-service game but received negative , and MuliVersus' full release is being shut down as well. Mortal Kombat 1 sold well but was criticized for its heavy focus on paid content.

Suicide Squad: KTJL's controversial killing of the Arkham series' Batman has been reversed in the game's final content update; Rocksteady Studios is now working on a new single-player Batman game.

Quidditch is a highly requested and essential part of the wizarding world, but was not included in Hogwarts Legacy. Instead of releasing it as an expansion, Warner Bros. frustratingly made Quidditch Champions a separate game. Comparing Hogwarts Legacy to the earlier mentioned titles, which are all multiplayer and live-service models, suggests that Warner Bros. prioritized games with microtransactions. Since Hogwarts Legacy is a single-player RPG with no live-service elements, it is likely that the game did not fit into Warner Bros.'s long-term monetization strategy. Thus, no major expansions or DLC were originally planned.

If Warner Bros. had seen Hogwarts Legacy's potential from the start, it might have focused more on post-launch expansions. New expansions would have kept players engaged and boosted long-term profits while also building loyalty and creating opportunities for future content releases.

How Hogwarts Legacy Could Look Different With Expansions

Hogwarts Legacy Still Has A Lot Of Untapped Potential

If Hogwarts Legacy had received major expansions, the game could have been even more incredible. There are so many possibilities for new content that could have kept players engaged long after launch. Hogwarts Legacy already has some replayability if you choose a different house in the beginning, but arguably even then, the experience does not significantly change with multiple playthroughs. Yet, if there were expansions, DLC, and regular content updates, players would have more reasons to keep coming back.

One of the biggest missed opportunities is, of course, Quidditch. Instead of turning it into a separate game, it could have been a major expansion that allowed players to participate in matches and compete for the Quidditch Cup. This could have added an entirely new gameplay system and made the game feel even more immersive. Players could have chosen their favorite role, ed in on practices, and competed in seasonal events.

The rumored Hogwarts Legacy DLC may add about 15 hours of extra gameplay.

New storylines could have taken the game in a darker direction, exploring wizarding conflicts, secret societies, or even the rise of dark magic. There are so many untold stories within the wizarding world that could have made for exciting DLC. Expansions could also explore new locations, like letting players find the Chamber of Secrets, fully explore the Ministry of Magic, or walk deeper into the Forbidden Forest.

Gameplay mechanics could also be expanded in DLC. New spells and combat would have allowed for more strategic fights. Additional companions and romance options could deepen player choice. Introducing new professors and courses might add fresh role-playing elements, making Hogwarts feel even more alive. Something else that would make for great content in Hogwarts Legacy would be an actual morality system, where choices are more meaningful and impactful to a character's journey. This, coupled with time skips, would make the wizarding world feel more dynamic.

With all these possibilities, it's clear that Hogwarts Legacy had the potential to be more than just a single release. If Warner Bros. had invested in expansions instead of prioritizing other games, fans might still be playing new content today. Hopefully, future titles in the wizarding world will build on what made Hogwarts Legacy so unique and give players the long-term engagement they clearly want.

Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

In the USA:

• Trans Lifeline : (877) 565-8860
• The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

In Canada:

• Trans Lifeline : (877) 330-6366
• Youth Line : 1-800-268-9688

In the UK:

• Switchboard : 01273 204050
• Mermaids : 0808 801 0400

Source: Insider Gaming