Baldur's Gate 4 Was Playable But Ultimately Abandoned by Larian

Larian Studios, creators of the 2023 Game of the Year, Baldur's Gate 3, have revealed intriguing details about a project they ultimately abandoned.

A Playable Baldur's Gate Sequel Left Behind

Larian Shelves BG3 DLC and BG4 to Pursue New Ventures

In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke disclosed that a Baldur's Gate 3 sequel was in development, reaching a playable stage before its cancellation. Vincke hinted that fans would have enjoyed it, stating, "It's something that you all would have liked, I think...You could already play stuff. But you played it and you looked at it, and, like, you know, this is OK." However, after years immersed in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, the team felt a need for a change. The prospect of another multi-year commitment to a similar project proved unappealing. Vincke questioned, "I mean, we'll probably have to redo it 10 times. And do we really want to do this for the next three years?"

The decision to forgo Baldur's Gate 4 stemmed from a desire to explore original ideas.

High Morale at Larian Fuels New Projects

Vincke emphasized the team's renewed enthusiasm, stating, "We should be looking at how we can do stuff that we get excited about." The decision to move on was a collective one, resulting in significantly boosted morale. "I don't think, as developers, we ever felt better since we took that decision [to not make BG4]," Vincke shared. "Honestly, you really cannot explain or express it, how liberated we are. So morale is super high, just because we're doing new stuff again."

Senior product manager Tom Butler added, "We'll carry on patching for a while and then we're all going to take a holiday and then we'll figure out what we do next." Both a Baldur's Gate 4 and a Baldur's Gate 3 expansion were shelved, allowing Larian to focus on two unannounced projects, which Vincke promises will be their best yet.

Prior to the Baldur's Gate series, Larian Studios developed the Divinity series. With their departure from the D&D franchise, a new Divinity entry seems likely. While a Divinity: Original Sin 3 was previously hinted at, Vincke clarified that their next project in the Divinity series will be unexpected.

Meanwhile, Baldur's Gate 3's final major patch, slated for Fall 2024, will introduce mod support, cross-play, and new evil endings.