Expansion of Hogwarts Legacy is canceled as financial crisis haunts Warner Bros. Games

Studio cuts exclusive content and focuses only on profitable franchises

Not even the resounding success of Hogwarts Legacy was enough to avoid another blow behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Games. The company canceled a major expansion for the game, which would bring new stories and exclusive content still in 2024. In addition, the so-called "Definitive Edition", which would include all the extra material, was also discarded.

The cancellation was revealed in a report by Bloomberg, indicating that the decision was made due to the lack of sufficient content to justify the value of the expansion. Anonymous sources stated that Avalanche Software, the studio responsible for the game, was developing the DLC in partnership with Rocksteady Studios, bringing back a mission cut from the original game.

Rocksteady tries to recover after Suicide Squad failure

The Rocksteady Studios, known for the Batman Arkham franchise, was collaborating on the expansion of Hogwarts Legacy, but the studio's situation is not favorable. After the commercial failure of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, released in 2024, the company underwent mass layoffs and cuts.

Now, sources indicate that the studio is trying to recover by working on a new Batman single-player game, betting on its most successful franchise to regain credibility.

Warner Bros. closes studios and scraps projects

The cancellation of the expansion of Hogwarts Legacy is just another reflection of the drastic changes within Warner Bros. Games. The company has been cutting projects and closing studios in recent months. Among the most controversial decisions are:

Cancellation of the Wonder Woman game, which was in production at Monolith Productions.

Closure of studios, including Player First Games and Warner Bros. Games San Diego.

The Warner Bros. Games justifies these actions as a "strategic change in direction," now focusing only on its most profitable franchises: Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, DC, and Game of Thrones.

Hogwarts Legacy sells millions, but doesn't save Warner Bros.

Despite the chaotic scenario behind the scenes, Hogwarts Legacy remains one of the best-selling games in history, surpassing 34 million copies. The game, originally released in 2023, was one of the biggest successes of Warner Bros. Games, exceeding the company's expectations.

The good news for fans is that a sequel is already in development by Avalanche Software, promising to expand the wizarding universe even further.

On the other hand, the financial crisis of Warner Bros. Discovery raises doubts about the studio's long-term sustainability. As Chris Tapsell, editor of Eurogamer, wrote, the company needs to rethink its management before it's too late:

"We can blame the system, the stock market, and bad luck as much as we want – and we would be right. But, in the end, it's the big individual decisions that shape the future of the industry."

With so many restructurings, cuts, and cancellations, will Warner Bros. Games still be able to keep the magic alive?