Former Baldur’s Gate Dev Turned Down BG4, Saying Following Larian Would Be “Insanity”

Taking On Baldur’s Gate 4 Was a Challenge One Studio Didn’t Want

After the incredible critical and commercial success of Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s no surprise that a fourth installment in the series seems almost inevitable. However, with Larian Studios choosing to move on to a new Divinity project instead of developing Baldur’s Gate 4, the big question remains: who will take over the franchise?

According to new comments from veteran developer James Ohlen, one experienced studio has already declined the opportunity.

Archetype Entertainment Declined Hasbro’s Offer

Archetype Entertainment, led by James Ohlen and Kevin Martens—both co-lead designers on Baldur’s Gate 2—was approached by Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast about developing the next Baldur’s Gate game.

After learning that Larian would not be making Baldur’s Gate 4, Hasbro CEO Chris Cox personally contacted Ohlen with the proposal.

Recalling the conversation in an interview with PC Gamer, Ohlen said:

“He called me. ‘Hey James, what do you think about doing Baldur’s Gate 4?’ And I was like, ‘I don’t, I would fail, and here’s why I would fail,’”

Larian Set an Almost Impossible Standard

Ohlen explained that he had no desire to compete with what Larian accomplished with Baldur’s Gate 3. Even while working on Archetype’s upcoming RPG, Exodus, he believes matching BG3 would be an enormous challenge.

As he put it:

“Having to compete against Baldur’s Gate 3? That would be insanity,”

One of the biggest hurdles, according to Ohlen, is the technology behind the game. Baldur’s Gate 3 was built using Larian’s proprietary engine, and recreating a comparable foundation would be a massive undertaking.

He estimated that building a new engine capable of supporting Baldur’s Gate 4 would mean “at least half a decade of horror.”

Even Larian’s Engine Wouldn’t Be Enough

Ohlen revealed that he even asked Chris Cox whether Larian might be willing to license its engine for a future Baldur’s Gate 4. However, he believes that even access to the technology wouldn’t solve the biggest problem.

In his view, the real magic behind Baldur’s Gate 3 came from the people who built it.

Speaking about Larian CEO Swen Vincke, Ohlen said:

“always going to be the master of building those kinds of things. It’s really hard to take him off that throne, just because of everything—the tools, institutional knowledge, team.”

For Ohlen, those years of experience, internal expertise, and established workflows are just as important as the engine itself.

The Pressure of Following a Modern Classic

The expectations surrounding Baldur’s Gate 4 are enormous. Baldur’s Gate 3 has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide while earning multiple Game of the Year awards, cementing its place as one of the most successful RPGs ever made.

Interestingly, even Larian has acknowledged the weight of those expectations. Although the studio has moved on from the Baldur’s Gate franchise, it has admitted that it feels “more pressure” to deliver with its next Divinity game.

For now, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast still have the difficult task of finding a studio willing—and able—to follow one of the most acclaimed RPGs of the modern era.