Hogwarts Legacy Breaks Harry Potter's Dumbledore Canon
To quote Doug the nerd from The Simpsons, "Boy, I really hope someone got fired for that blunder." Although Hogwarts Legacy tries to keep the canon of the Wizarding World locked up tight, that isn't quite true when it comes to Albus Dumbledore.
Apart from Harry Potter and Voldemort, Albus Dumbledore is probably the most famous wizard to grace the franchise. With Hogwarts Legacy's place in the late 1800s, we hoped to see a young Albus in those hallowed halls.
That sadly hasn't come to pass (maybe they're saving him for the sequel), but what Hogwarts Legacy does is put a question mark over his ultimate fate in the book and movies.
Disclaimer: While the creator of the Harry Potter franchise was not directly involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy, their comments on social media around transgender people are hurtful and dangerous given the size of their platform.
We’d implore you to read our explainer of the controversy so far, and consider supporting trans rights charities where possible.
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How Does Hogwarts Legacy Change Dumbledore's Story?
Where were you when you read those immortal lines that Severus Snape killed Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince? Considering the sixth book came out in 2005, most of us knew what would happen to Dumbledore when it came to David Yates' 2009 movie of the same name.
After having been struck by the Unforgiving Curse in the Astronomy Tower while facing off against Voldemort's Death Eaters, there's that iconic scene of Dumbledore (played by Michael Gambon) tumbling to the ground. It's one of the franchise's most iconic moments... except, it would never have happened like that.
As spotted by Reddit user u/BuccellatiExplainsIt, the Hogwarts Legacy map clearly shows a series of walkways beneath the Astronomy Tower. For Dumbledore to have landed where he did, he'd have to have bounced. We're pretty sure Snape didn't hit him with a rubber curse.
One fan joked, "Did Snape use the Levioso/Accio + Depulso combo?" Another chuckled, "Tumbledore" while a third said, "It's already been established that Hogwarts has an ever-changing floor pattern."
It's all a bit of fun, and as someone pointed out, "Hogwarts castle in Hogwarts Legacy doesn't look 100% the same as in the movies. So using Hogwarts legacy map to 'show exactly where dumbledore was killed' doesn't entirely work."
Could We See Dumbledore In Future Games?
While Warner Bros. Interactive is saying "Silencio" to the idea of a Hogwarts Legacy sequel for now, there's definitely scope there. According to gamesindustry.biz, the title has just smashed a 22-year-old record for the biggest UK launch of a Harry Potter game - beating The Philosopher's Stone.
There are swirling theories that your character joining the school as a Fifth Year is to set up a potential trilogy that ends with you graduating. With the game being set in 1890, it would also coincide with Dumbledore being a First Year when you're in your seventh.
There are already multiple Weasleys, Headmaster Black, and a reference to Voldemort's family, so adding the Dumbledores to the mix makes a lot of sense. This is one franchise we're sure will be laughing all the way to the goblin bank - with or without Albus.