Baldur’s Gate 3 was undoubtedly a high point for Larian Studios and a milestone in the gaming world last year. But now Larian CEO Swen Vincke is announcing a surprising move at the Game Developers Conference: The Belgian development team will not only be saying goodbye to the sequel to the adventure, but also to the Dungeons & Dragons license on which the game is based.
Farewell to Baldur’s Gate and Dungeons & Dragons: Future without sequel
Swen Vincke emphasized at the Game Developers Conference that Baldur’s Gate will always have a special place in the studio’s heart, but it will no longer be involved. Neither an expansion nor a Baldur’s Gate 4 is planned. The company has already experimented unsuccessfully with DLCs in the past and sees no point in continuing down this path. Instead, the company wants to break away from Dungeons & Dragons and explore new avenues.
For the avoidance of doubt – there are plenty of people in publishing I met who have their hearts in the right place. This message was for those who try to double their revenue year after year. You don’t have to do that. Build more slowly and make your aim improving the state of… https://t.co/DTMmwst1qE
– Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) March 21, 2024
The exact reasons for this move remain unclear, but Vincke points to Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, who hold the rights to the Dungeons & Dragons IP. It is now up to them to shape the future of Baldur’s Gate. Meanwhile, the future of Larian Studios remains a mystery, although Vincke has already hinted that a new project is in the works.
