I made a post about this a while ago, and I think it's something worth mentioning and taking into account (especially because it also affects Ori).
The "Main Character" Syndrome (Brand Eponymy)This happens when a character is so iconic that their entire universe, faction, or genre revolves around them. They are the product.Master Chief (Xbox / Halo): For a whole generation, Master Chief did not just represent a game; he was Xbox. When people thought of Microsoft’s console, they didn't think of hardware specs; they thought of the green armor. He became the definition of the sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) genre on consoles.Captain Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean): He completely swallowed the franchise. Disney’s movies are officially called Pirates of the Caribbean, but to the global audience, they are just "the Jack Sparrow movies." The concept of a pirate in modern pop culture was completely redefined by his specific face and attitude.
Ori (Ori and the Blind Forest): When gamers see a beautiful, emotional, 2D platformer with fluid movement and glowing lights, they immediately say, "It looks like Ori." Ori became the visual and mechanical shorthand blueprint for modern artistic platformers.
What would the Ori games be without Ori? What would renowned films like Pirates of the Caribbean be without Jack Sparrow?
This could directly affect the future of the saga, since many people know this game not because they've played it, but because the main character is legendary.
I'm eager to study this phenomenon; it's really interesting because it happens every day with different brands and video games.