Larian Studios, the developer behind the critically acclaimed *Baldur's Gate 3*, nearly embarked on a sequel to the beloved RPG. However, after initial enthusiasm, the studio decided against it, choosing instead to focus on new, original projects.
Larian CEO Swen Vincke revealed that after the overwhelming success of *Baldur's Gate 3*, the team was initially tempted to continue the franchise. "Everyone was asking, 'When are you going to make the next one?'", Vincke said, reflecting on the post-launch period. "You're vulnerable, coming out of that intense development cycle."
This vulnerability led to an exploration of potential sequels. "We considered it the easiest route â just make an expansion or a standalone add-on, or even start work on a full sequel," Vincke explained.
Larian's initial work on a follow-up, envisioned as an expansion, was quick and efficient. "The production machine was still warm," Vincke said, referring to the momentum gained during *Baldur's Gate 3
development. However, the team soon realised that a substantial expansion would require extensive work. "We'd probably have to redo it 10 times," Vincke admitted. "And do we really want to spend another three years on this?"
The prospect of a full sequel, *Baldur's Gate 4*, initially seemed appealing. "We could just move all the stuff we did for *Baldur's Gate 3
into it, people would love it," Vincke stated. However, the realisation that a sequel would mean "doing the same thing" for even more years ultimately proved unappealing.
"We should be looking at how we can do stuff that we get excited about," Vincke asserted. This sentiment was shared by his team, and a collective decision was made to move on from the *Baldur's Gate
franchise.
"It very rapidly turned," Vincke said, "and I don't think, as developers, we ever felt better since we took that decision. Honestly, you really cannot explain or express it, how liberated we are."
Larian is now fully focused on two new RPGs, one of which was recently discussed at a summit in Barcelona. While *Baldur's Gate
fans might be disappointed by the lack of a sequel, Larian's decision reflects their ambition to explore new creative avenues and deliver fresh, exciting experiences to players.