Hogwarts Legacy, the upcoming role-playing game set in the Harry Potter universe, has become the most anticipated game of 2024, surpassing the popularity of Call of Duty and Rockstar Games titles. This is a remarkable feat, considering that the gaming industry has been dominated by these two franchises for the past 14 years. In this article, we will explore how Hogwarts Legacy managed to break the streak, and what it means for the future of gaming.
The 14-Year Streak in the Gaming Industry
Since 2010, the gaming industry has been largely controlled by two major franchises: Call of Duty and Rockstar Games. Call of Duty, the first-person shooter series developed by Activision, has been the best-selling game in the US every year from 2010 to 2023, except for 2013 and 2018, when it was beaten by Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2, respectively. These two open-world games, developed by Rockstar Games, have also been among the top-selling games of the decade, with Grand Theft Auto V becoming the highest-grossing media title of all time, earning over $6 billion in revenue.
These two franchises have established a loyal fan base, consistent quality, and a massive marketing budget, making them hard to compete with. They have also influenced the trends and standards of the gaming industry, such as the popularity of online multiplayer modes, microtransactions, and realistic graphics. For many years, it seemed that no other game could challenge their dominance, or offer something new and different to the gamers.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Breakthrough
However, in 2024, a new contender has emerged: Hogwarts Legacy, the first Harry Potter game in eight years, and the first one to be set in the 19th century, before the events of the books and movies. The game, developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, allows the players to create their own custom character, and explore the wizarding world as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The game features a vast open world, a branching story, a dynamic combat system, and a variety of magical activities and quests.
Hogwarts Legacy has been generating a huge buzz since its announcement in September 2020 and has been receiving positive feedback from critics and fans alike. The game has won several awards, such as the Most Wanted Game at the 2020 Golden Joystick Awards, and the Most Anticipated Game at the 2020 Game Awards. According to a recent survey by GamesIndustry.biz, Hogwarts Legacy is the most anticipated game of 2024, beating Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Grand Theft Auto VI, and The Elder Scrolls VI. The game is expected to sell over 20 million copies in its first year, and potentially break the 14-year streak of Call of Duty and Rockstar Games.
Hogwarts Legacy’s success could have a significant impact on the gaming industry, as it could inspire more developers to create original and innovative games, based on popular franchises or new ideas. It could also increase the demand and appreciation for single-player, story-driven, and role-playing games, which have been overshadowed by multiplayer, action, and shooter games in recent years. Moreover, it could prove that the Harry Potter franchise still has a lot of potential and appeal, despite the controversies and criticisms surrounding its creator, J.K. Rowling.
Reasons for Hogwarts Legacy’s Success
There are many factors that contribute to Hogwarts Legacy’s success, but the most obvious one is the fans’ love for the Harry Potter franchise. The franchise, which consists of seven books, eight movies, and various spin-offs, has been one of the most popular and influential cultural phenomena of the 21st century, with over 500 million books sold, and over $9 billion earned at the box office. The franchise has created a loyal and passionate fan base, who have been eagerly waiting for a new Harry Potter game, especially one that allows them to immerse themselves in the wizarding world, and create their own stories and adventures.
Another reason for Hogwarts Legacy’s success is its innovative gameplay and open-world concept, which sets it apart from the previous Harry Potter games, which were mostly linear and based on the movies. Hogwarts Legacy gives the players more freedom and choice, as they can customize their character, choose their house, attend classes, learn spells, make friends, join clubs, explore the world, and influence the story. The game also features a stunning and detailed open world, which includes not only Hogwarts, but also other locations, such as Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and London. The game’s graphics, sound, and music are also impressive and create a realistic and immersive atmosphere.
A third reason for Hogwarts Legacy’s success is its good reviews and awards, which have boosted its reputation and hype. The game has been praised by critics and fans for its gameplay, story, graphics, and innovation. The game has also won several awards, such as the Most Wanted Game at the 2020 Golden Joystick Awards, and the Most Anticipated Game at the 2020 Game Awards. These accolades have increased the game’s visibility and credibility, and have attracted more attention and interest from the gaming community.
A final reason for Hogwarts Legacy’s success is its breaking away from the usual game developers, such as Activision and Rockstar Games, who have been dominating the gaming industry for the past 14 years. Hogwarts Legacy is developed by Avalanche Software, a relatively small and unknown studio, which was acquired by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in 2017. The game is also published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, which is not known for producing blockbuster games, but rather for adapting movies and TV shows into games, such as the Lego, Batman, and Middle-earth series. By choosing a different developer and publisher, Hogwarts Legacy has shown that it is not afraid to take risks and that it is not bound by the conventions and expectations of the gaming industry.
