D&D General Hasbro Is Looking For Partners For Baldur's Gate 4

Last month, Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larion Studios revealed that it was 'elated' not to be working on further D&D video games, expansions, or DLC.

However, Wizard of the Coast's Eugene Evans says that a sequel is still "very much on the cards". Evans is Senior vice president of Digital Strategy and Licensing for Hasbro and WotC, and was talking in an interview with PC Gamer.

“We’re now talking to lots of partners and being approached by a lot of partners who are embracing the challenge of, what does the future of the Baldur’s Gate franchise look like? So we certainly hope that it’s not another 25 years, as it was from Baldur’s Gate 2 to 3, before we answer that. But 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. We take that very, very seriously, as we do with all of our decisions around our portfolio. We don’t rush into decisions as to who to partner with on products or what products we should be considering.”

Fans of the characters, such as Shadowheart and Astarian, created by Larion and introduced in BG3 will be pleased to know that they are now owned by WotC, meaning that it's not impossible that they would show up in any sequels. Evans said "Larian created a much loved cast of characters, who were even celebrated by their nominations, the voice actors behind them and the talent behind them was celebrated at the [BAFTAS]...And they are now essentially part of D&D canon."

 

[CapnZapp]

They would not want to just leave cash on the table, so of course.

The interesting part is that they seem to understand how foolish it would have been to try to have a new studio understand Larian's code base in order to produce more BG3 content.

It is the right decision to focus on a BG4. (Even if that game might suck)

 

[Argyle King]

Firaxis Games would be good.

 

[Reynard]

They should definitely try and do something different, otherwise they are going to end up in a "we have Larian at home" situation.

I nominate Owlcat.

 

[Alexi Lyonhart]

Honestly? I'd rather BG4 be... not BG4, lol. Give me a 'BG' game set in Eberron or Ravenloft. Hell, give me Spelljammer or the like. Anywhere more interesting than Faerun.

 

[sevenbastard]

And they are now essentially part of D&D canon."

I would quibble that this is actually forgotten realms canon not D&D canon, but overall it's interesting that the BG video games have added a lot over the years as a shared experience of D&D even if they are not a TTRPG.

I've never played it but BG3 will have a long and lasting impact on our hobby as it acts a s a gateway.

 

[GMMichael]

1) Does "on the cards" mean "in the cards?"

2) Me when I saw the time gap between sequels:

 

[Steampunkette]

In the best case scenario...

BG3 as it stands gets used to generate additional content without building a whole new game. The amount of time and energy the company could save by using the same engine and structure to release new content while maintaining the 5e design structure already built into the code is -phenomenal-.

You'd still need an ever growing art-library and voiceovers/music, but the framework and core structure exist so just keep using it. You'd also have the benefit of having the -current- art-library already in place to build new material with the lego-bits you're already sitting on.

This would have the added benefit of allowing the mods designed for BG3 function for BG4 without much issue, maintaining a continuity of player-generated materials.

THEN release the "Baldur's Gate Development Kit" which is just BG3 broken down into component pieces for the audience to build EVEN MORE MATERIAL for the game.

Add in an "Eberron" art pack and create a whole game set in Sharn the City of Towers. You could literally just adapt entirely pre-written material into the game to save money on writers by re-using old work. So add in a "Ravenloft" Art-Pack and use the engine to create a Curse of Strahd game.

Don't just chase the next generation of graphics or whatever.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

1) Does "on the cards" mean "in the cards?

No, the two expressions have different meanings. On the Cards means planned, In the Cards means maybe with luck.

 

[Meech17]

They should definitely try and do something different, otherwise they are going to end up in a "we have Larian at home" situation.

I nominate Owlcat.

Yeah.. Rather than trying to make lightning strike twice, they should learn from this success. They gave Larian the freedom and ability to make something amazing. Find another company they believe in, and give them the same freedom and trust them to make something special.

You're going to have a lot of people upset that it isn't just Baldurs Gate 3 2.. But if you tried to force that you'd have probably an equal number of people upset with how it turned out.