Despite being a huge success in terms of critical acclaim and sales, Baldur’s Gate III has not prompted its developer and publisher, Larian Studios, to immediately rush into developing DLC packs, expansions, or a sequel like most game developers would.
Despite being different from most game developers, Larian has shown in the past that they are not afraid to take unique approaches. According to a report by IGN, during a panel at the Game Developers Conference, Larian founder Swen Vincke confirmed that the team has no plans to create any expansions for Baldur’s Gate III or develop a fourth game in the popular Dungeons and Dragons fantasy RPG series.
According to Vincke’s statements, Larian is no longer focused on developing D&D games and instead plans to release a brand new original title.
According to a recent article from IGN, Vincke revealed that Larian had initially begun work on a DLC for Baldur’s Gate III and had even brainstormed ideas for a potential Baldur’s Gate 4. However, as the expansion was being developed, it became evident that the development team was not passionate about the project.
You could see the team was doing it because everyone felt like we had to do it, but it wasn’t really coming from the heart, and we’re very much a studio from the heart. It’s what gotten us into misery and it’s also been the reasons for our success.
The team’s decision to abandon the expansion and focus on new projects came after the Christmas holidays, with Vincke expressing the team’s enthusiasm for the change.
Despite Larian’s decision not to produce a sequel to Baldur’s Gate III, the game’s success may lead Wizards of the Coast, the owners of D&D, to consider approaching a different developer to develop a fourth installment in the franchise.
The development of Baldur’s Gate games has a history. BioWare developed the first two PC games, as well as expansions for both. Additionally, Snowblind Studios and Black Isle Studios created two spin-off action-RPGs in the Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance series. More recently, Beamdog has released enhanced editions of the first two games and even created a brand new expansion for the original game.
With the announcement of Larian’s next project, speculation has already begun on what it could be. According to Vincke, it will not be a sequel to one of their previous titles, Divinity: Original Sin 2. He also hinted that the game will be unlike anything fans expect. While it may be a while before Larian reveals more details, the anticipation for this new game is already high.
Leave a Reply