Summary
- Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke explains why they won't pursue Baldur's Gate 4 despite the success of the previous game.
- Making a sequel or DLC for Baldur's Gate 3 was the easy option, but Larian decided to focus on projects they're excited about.
- With Larian moving on, Wizards of the Coast faces a challenge in finding a new developer for Baldur's Gate.
Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke has revealed the reasons why the developer decided not to pursue a potential Baldur's Gate 3. Despite the previous game being one of the biggest success stories of 2023, Larian Studios will not be involved in any potential Baldur's Gate 4.
It was first confirmed that Larian would be moving on from the Baldur's Gate series back in March, news that came as a massive surprise to most gamers out there. Baldur's Gate 3 was already an enormous success, and given its story-focused gameplay, most presumed that DLC expansions were a certainty. Although the studio continues to support the game with patches, any substantial amount of new content was not to be. At the time, Larian Studios didn't confirm exactly what was previously in development, whether that be a piece of DLC or a sequel, but the details are a little clearer now.
Baldur's Gate 3 Player Beats Challenging Honour Mode Boss in Less Than 1 Round
Using an effective strategy, a Baldur's Gate 3 player manages to defeat a formidable boss in Honour Mode during a single round of combat.
In an interview with PC Gamer, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke spoke a little about why the developer won't be involved with Baldur's Gate 4. Hot on the heels of Baldur's Gate 3's successful release, Vincke confirmed Larian was "vulnerable," and "emotionally drained," claiming, "You tend to be prone to do the obvious thing, which was really just make an add-on, or a standalone add-on, or start working on a sequel, because it's the easiest route to take." Of the work completed on Baldur's Gate 4, Vincke mentioned that it was "something that you all would have liked, I think."
Gamers "All Would Have Liked" Larian's Canceled Baldur's Gate 4
It was a period of reflection that led Larian to abandon the franchise. Vincke pointed out, "Another X amount of years, same thing, exactly the same mechanics, same problems that we actually already solved, just evolving them. And then you start looking at the other things that you had planned and pushing them back, and then you've come back to your senses, because by then the vulnerability is gone." It was clear to Vincke and the studio that "We should be looking at how we can do stuff that we get excited about," and mentioned that since Larian chose its future, "I don't think, as developers, we ever felt better since we took that decision." Larian has since opened a new studio to assist with two RPGs, but is yet to confirm details of the projects.
We should be looking at how we can do stuff that we get excited about.
With Larian distancing itself from the future of Baldur's Gate, Wizards of the Coast has the unenviable task of choosing another developer to follow in its footsteps. Any title in the series is naturally going to be compared to Baldur's Gate 3 going forward, which certainly makes it a tough standard to live up to. The good news is that whenever a sequel is developed, there may be some familiar faces along for the ride. Baldur's Gate 3's Neil Newbon recently revealed he'd "love" to reprise the Astarion role, and others in the cast have also previously commented conveying similar sentiments. While it'll likely be a while before any story decisions are made for the next title in the series, it's good to know that some of the actors would be willing to return without Larian's involvement.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
