Belgian’s Larian Studios Reveals Its Baldur’s Gate 4 That Never Was
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Loading... - Zach McCarthy
- 12 Aug 2024
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Larian Studios recently revealed details about the Baldur’s Gate 4 project that almost came to fruition but was ultimately shelved. Last weekend marked the one-year anniversary of Baldur’s Gate 3, the critically acclaimed RPG from the Belgian studio, which quickly became a commercial success and garnered numerous awards.
In an interview with PCGamer, Larian’s CEO, Swen Vincke, shared that the team seriously considered continuing their work within the Dungeons & Dragons universe after completing Baldur’s Gate 3. Initially, the idea was to create an expansion or a standalone title by adding extra levels or new storylines. However, as the team delved deeper into the concept, they realized that a simple expansion wouldn’t be enough, and the project began to take the shape of a full-blown sequel. Despite this momentum, it became clear that developing another Baldur’s Gate game would take several years, with a release likely not happening until 2027 at the earliest.
Ultimately, the decision to abandon the sequel was driven by a desire to avoid repeating the same formula. Vincke discussed this during a company meeting, where the consensus was to move on from Baldur’s Gate entirely. The studio later confirmed this decision publicly at GDC 2024, with Vincke describing it as a "godsend." The decision was further supported by the fact that many of Larian’s key partners at Wizards of the Coast, who had been instrumental in the development of Baldur’s Gate 3, were laid off late last year.
Rather than resting on their laurels, Larian is now focused on new projects that excite them. The studio is working on two concurrent games, one of which is codenamed "Excalibur." Vincke expressed relief and excitement about the direction Larian is taking, emphasizing that the team is energized by the freedom to create something original without being tied to the rules of a decades-old franchise. He noted that morale at the studio is exceptionally high as they embark on these new ventures.
