Baldur’s Gate 3set a new standard for the CRPG genre, which had left many hopeful that Larian Studios would be in charge of the franchise from here on out. However, with Larian Studios recently confirming that the company is moving on to new ventures afterBaldur’s Gate 3, the next chapter in the series has a major challenge on the horizon.
WhenBaldur’s Gate 3launched near the latter half of 2023, the expectations for future fantasy RPGs arguably changed forever. Thanks to the efforts of Larian Studios,Baldur’s Gate 3raised the bar in a variety of ways that made the title one of the best games of the year, one which some would argue is one of the best games of the decade. Since its launch,Baldur’s Gate 3has won an impressive number of awardsessentially proving all of that. Despite this incredible success, developer Larian Studios has confirmed that its next project will be something completely different, leaving many questions about the fate of theBaldur’s Gatefranchise.
The Next Baldur’s Gate Is In a Tricky Spot
As of now,Baldur’s Gate 4is only an idea, but if a fourth game becomes reality, the developer that gets put in charge of the project has a huge uphill battle ahead.No sequel toBaldur’s Gate 3is likely the best move, but the possibility of an eventual fourth game isn’t completely out of the realm of possibility.
Expectations Will Be Higher Than Ever
If a newBaldur’s Gateever gets confirmed, the new developer in charge will have an immense amount of pressure on its hands. Larian Studios not only brought a well-crafted world to life, but it also spawned an entire dynamic ecosystem filled with unique characters and situations. Every corner of the world feels lived-in in a way that’s incredibly difficult to replicate. This world-building will be exciting to see explored inLarian Studios' next games, but the studio’s absence fromBaldur’s Gatewill be felt by many.
Hubris could ultimately lead another developer to attemptwhat Larian Studios has managed to accomplish, and it could turn out to be incredible. However, it’s difficult to catch lightning in a bottle twice, so attempts at a sequel could also set up a studio for failure due to such huge expectations, and it would be a shame for a new studio to go through that.
The next game from Larian Studios will be an original IP.
A New Baldur’s Gate Game Would Need To Switch Things Up
Baldur’s Gate 4isn’t currently in development, butHasbro has stated that the franchise will indeed continuedespite Larian Studios stepping away from the franchise. Hasbro is currently looking for the correct partner to bringBaldur’s Gate 4to life, but a sequel would also have to set itself apart from its predecessor. The pressure to meet the bar Larian Studios set while also creating a game that stands on its own outside ofBaldur’s Gate 3with its own unique voice seems nearly impossible.
Despite the prospect of developingBaldur’s Gate 4being a daunting task, there may eventually be the correct studio to head such a massive project.Baldur’s Gate 3is a huge gamefilled with mountains of content for players to explore and discover, so a fourth game is definitely not needed any time soon. That gives Hasbro plenty of breathing room, should it take advantage of that fact. If Hasbro finds a studio capable of developingBaldur’s Gate 4, only time will tell if the game is able to find its way out ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s shadow.
Baldur’s Gate 3
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 EXPERIENCEChoose 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 EPICForged 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.
