It has recently become clear that the sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3 will not involve Larian Studios, as Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast are talking to other developers.
This shouldn’t surprise those aware of Larian Studios’ desire to move away from Dungeons & Dragons to have a go at something entirely different. Last month, Larian Studios head Sven Vincke clarified that the studio was ready to move on. They want to pass the Baldur’s Gate torch onto someone else. Following on from this, it seems Hasbro is looking at new developers for the next game in the series.
Next Baldur’s Gate Won’t Be From Larian Studios
Baldur’s Gate IP owners Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast are looking at new developers for the next game. They hope to build upon Larian Studios’ beloved masterpiece’s monumental critical and commercial success. Quite the tall order.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast’s Eugene Evans mentioned how they have been in talks with “lots of partners” regarding the future of Baldur’s Gate. He says that they are planning a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3 but that “we’re going to take our time and find the right partner, the right approach, and the right product that could represent the future of Baldur’s Gate.” Ultimately, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast don’t want to “rush into decisions as to who to partner with on products or what products we should be considering.” He can’t give an exact time frame for the sequel but is fairly confident it won’t take another 25 years as it did for Baldur’s Gate 2 to 3. Phew.
What does this mean for Shadowheart, Gale, Astarion, and the gang? Their futures are a little more muddied. Clearly, fans have a deep attachment to these beloved characters and would warmly welcome their return in a sequel. It was previously confirmed by Larian’s Sven Vinke that these characters are owned by Wizards of the Coast. Therefore, they definitely have a chance of popping up in a potential sequel. Evans says “it’s too early” to confirm their return but “would like to think that all of those characters, for the sake of the fans, could potentially appear in future products.” Here’s hoping!
What do you want from the next Baldur’s Gate? Are you ok with them taking their time with it, or do you want it sooner? Let us know in the comments. For more on Baldur’s Gate 3, head over to our Guide Hub.