It’s fair to say that, for several big reasons,Hogwarts Legacywill go down in history as one of the most controversial games of recent times. Even though Avalanche Software has created itsHarry Potteradaptation without J. K. Rowling, many players will understandably be unable to separate the title from the franchise’s infamous creator. That being said, it’s worth acknowledging that the studio has done a good job of realizing its own vision.
One of the reasons whyHogwarts Legacyhas become a commercial success is down to how the game’s sandbox has been realized in particular. Beyond the fact that Avalanche has lovingly adapted the Wizarding World into a virtual space, the studio has made exploring it fun too. Things aren’t perfect on the mechanical side of things, though. The fact that players can’t switch the game’s season is a glaring oversight that the studio should address soon.
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Hogwarts Legacy’s Seasons
As players explore the sandbox that surroundsHogwarts Legacy’s namesake, the world around them evolves as well. At select points in the game’s story, time will jump forward, and the season will physically change. Beyond adding an extra layer of immersion tothe game’s RPG setup, each of the seasons has a profound impact on the visual identity of the title too. Summer, fall, winter, and spring, are all present and distinct from one another.
Not only do the seasonal changes do a good job showcasing that the player’s fifth-year student is progressing personally, the mechanic acts as a form of fan service too. In each of theHarry Potterbooks and movies, the seasons are a big part of the narrative and overall experience. For example, fans have reveled in the ability to cosplay the different seasons of the Wizarding World. The fact that they can effectively live through the same journey so effectively in a virtual space is ultimately a testament to Avalanche.
Hogwarts’ Post Game Seasons
Despite these achievements, there’s one aspect of the seasonal concept that Avalanche could take a step further. As it stands right now, once playersreachHogwarts Legacy’s credits, the game’s season becomes locked to springtime. There’s currently no way for the player to switch things up or go back. That means three of the four seasons are effectively limited to specific moments in time.
Considering how players can tailor their witch or wizard in several ways, it feels like a slight oversight that they can’t go back to an earlier season. It’s worth pointing out that Avalanche would likely argue that the seasonal lock is realistic to the game’s story.Part ofHogwarts Legacy’s charmis admittedly leading a student through the full school year. While that philosophy suits the RPG mechanics of the game, it’s simultaneously at odds with its open-world parts, though.
Being able to go back to summer, fall, or winter, after the credits have rolled, would addlongevity toHogwarts Legacy. Players are more likely to engage with exploring the world, for example, if they could alter the environment and bask in the unique charm that each holds. Based on how it’s not signposted during the game that most of the seasons are one-time events, it would probably alleviate some post-credits blues that players might experience.
Fixing Hogwarts’ Seasons
While it’s worth pointing out that game development isn’t easy by any means, there are possible avenues Avalanche Software could go down to address the issue. Adding an iconon theHogwarts Legacy’s mapthat allows seasonal changes is one conceivable option. As it stands right now, players are able to click in the right stick to alter the time of day in-game, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that an option might pop up here either.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One ports are scheduled to release on April 4, whereas the Nintendo Switch version is arriving on July 28, 2025.
