Baldur’s Gate 3 was a surprise for many in 2023. However, those hoping for another D&D role-playing game from Larian must brace themselves: there will be no Baldur’s Gate 4.
What does Larian say? Swen Vincke made headlines multiple times last night at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). He used his speaking time for the “Best Narrative” award to address a current crisis in the gaming industry: the rising layoffs.
As if that wasn’t enough, Vincke also announced that there will be no expansion for the role-playing hit Baldur’s Gate 3. There will also be no sequel:
Baldur’s Gate 3 will always hold a special place in our hearts. We will be proud of it forever, but we will not continue it. We will not create new expansions that everyone expects. We will not make a Baldur’s Gate 4 that everyone expects from us. We are moving on. We will move away from D&D and create something new.
Swen Vincke via PC Gamer
Why won’t Baldur’s Gate 3 be continued? As Vincke explains, Larian is simply not a studio that produces DLCs or expansions. They have tried this before and it has always failed, according to the CEO. Instead, they are a “company of big ideas”.
It remains to be seen what big idea Larian will pursue next. Regarding Baldur’s Gate 3, there will likely still be updates and patches. However, what happens beyond that is no longer Larian’s problem: “It’s up to Wizards of the Coast to find someone to carry the torch, as it is their IP. We have done our job […].”
Fans are disappointed, but understanding
How is the community reacting? They are surprisingly accepting of the news. In a Reddit thread, which gathered over 1,000 comments in 13 hours, many fans show understanding for the studio’s decision: after all, D&D is bound to Wizards of the Coast and thus Hasbro:
- super_alice_won: “I love BG3 and would love to see more of it, but at the same time, I completely understand why a company would want to cut any ties with Wizards of the Coast.” (via Reddit)
- 1stNow: “I see Larian similarly to FromSoftware, in that the IP is much less important than the studio. Whatever their next project will be, it will certainly be similar to their ‘Original Sin’ games or BG3.” (via Reddit)
- CertainDerision_33: “Honestly, it makes sense for them. With BG3 being such a big success, it means for Larian that they already have a much larger fanbase for future titles, and it is far more valuable and important for an independent company to develop their own IPs rather than rely on licenses.” (via Reddit)
- FOXHOUND9000: “… so, did Hasbro screw up and kill the golden goose, or what?” (via Reddit)
Interestingly, despite the disappointment, no one seems to blame Larian for there being no expansions for Baldur’s Gate. Rather, the frustration is directed at Hasbro. The company had laid off 1,100 employees just before Christmas last year – exactly the kind of action Vincke criticized in his acceptance speech.
What do you think about this? Were you hoping for more Baldur’s Gate 3, or can you understand Larian’s decision? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments and discuss with other readers on MeinMMO.
However, Swen Vincke’s statement does not mean that there will be no more games in the D&D universe in the future. Not least inspired by the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, Hasbro has already hinted at more titles. A co-op game is already in the works.
So it’s quite possible that one day there will still be a Baldur’s Gate 4, just not from Larian anymore.
