Though it has its issues,Hogwarts Legacyis quite an ambitious release from Avalanche Software, a developer that had previously been best known for its work on games likeDisney Infinity. Needless to say,Hogwarts Legacyis a remarkable step up in scope, scale, and intention—something that is reflected by its incredible sales milestones and cultural impact.
Among the most interesting and bold ideas inHogwarts Legacyis the deeply customizable Room of Requirement. Once players gain access to this space, it can serve as a sort of headquarters: the game offers a surprising degree of control over things like wall decor, flooring, and accessories, with more options opening up as blueprints and other collectibles are discovered elsewhere in the game. The space has practical utility as well, as players can grow crops and potions that can aid them in combat, but its main draw isn’t pragmatic; the Room of Requirement excels as a venue for self-expression and personalization more than anything else.
How Hogwarts Legacy 2 Could Elevate the Room of Requirement With a Multiplayer Touch
Multiplayer Integration Would Be the Logical Next Step for Hogwarts Legacy 2
Much has been said aboutHogwarts Legacy’s potential for multiplayer gameplay, not only because of rumors and Warner Bros' infamous live-service push post-launch, but because the game seems like a good fit for it. A detailed, well-polished MMORPG set in the world ofHarry Potterwould probably sell like hotcakes, even if it were a bit derivative of other industry giants likeWorld of WarcraftandDestiny. Plus, while only time will tell ifHogwarts Legacy 2winds up embracing multiplayer, it’s easy to imagine how it could be done.
A full-blown MMO could be toogreat a leap forHogwarts Legacy 2, but that doesn’t mean there’s no way to integrate multiplayer into the experience. One way to do this would be to turn the Room of Requirement into a sort of interactive hub, allowing players to invite their friends over a laAnimal Crossing. Nintendo’s cozy animal-themed life sim might actually be a great blueprint for this idea in more ways than one: players could trade with each other to improve their Rooms of Requirement, with certain items or magical creatures only being available through this method.
Hogwarts Legacyplayers already show off their custom Roomsonline, so some kind of system that allows real-time sharing of these spaces directly from the game seems like a decent idea. It wouldn’t be without its problems, of course, as one could argue that this sort of thing would be immersion-breaking, for instance. But to be frank,Hogwarts Legacyis already pretty immersion-breaking, what with its lack of a school schedule, character backstory, or consequences for certain actions, so there’s no real reason to hold back here.
Another potential downside to this idea would be how it could play intoHogwarts Legacyas a live service: Warner Bros. would have an opportunity to inject microtransactions into this casual multiplayer experience, preying on players' sense of FOMO when they see cosmetics in other Rooms.
A Shareable Room of Requirement Could Make Hogwarts Legacy 2 a More Faithful Adaptation
The most notable use of the Room of Requirement in theHarry Potterseries is when the titular character uses it as a meeting/training space for Dumbledore’s Army, a student-led resistance group. IfHogwarts Legacy 2wanted to be more like its source material, then multiplayer elements injected into the Room of Requirement may actually help, in a roundabout sort of way. Players could interact with one another in these spaces, turning them into community areas rather than simply isolated retreats.
