Baldur's Gate 3
News, coverage and analysis tracking Baldur's Gate 3 across the outlets.
Baldur's Gate 4 could've been headed by a Baldur's Gate 2 veteran, but the RPG legend "wouldn't want to compete" against Larian: "That would be insanity"James Ohlen, director of writing and design for Baldur's Gate 2, revealed that Hasbro approached him about developing Baldur's Gate 4. However, Ohlen declined, stating he would not want to compete with the success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and its proprietary engine. He believes a new entry would need to be highly original to succeed, acknowledging Larian's mastery in the RPG genre.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead says Zelda: Breath of the Wild was "the first open-world game that actually…Guillaume Broche, creative director of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, believes The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the first open-world game to truly deliver on its promise. He praises its sense of exploration and freedom, contrasting it with his general dislike for the open-world genre. Broche's views differ from many on his team who are Zelda fans, but he found Breath of the Wild to be an exceptional experience.
"I would fail, and here's why I would fail" Why Baldur's Gate 2 co-lead turned down Hasbro's request to make Baldur's Gate 4James Ohlen, co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 and lead at Archetype Entertainment, declined Hasbro's request to develop Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen cited the immense success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and the technical challenges of replicating its engine and tools as reasons for his refusal, preferring to focus on his studio's upcoming game, Exodus.
12 Games Like Baldur's Gate 3 (Organized by What You Actually Loved) | TAGThis guide recommends games similar to Baldur's Gate 3, organized by what players enjoyed most, such as companions, tactical combat, or co-op. It highlights titles like Disco Elysium for narrative fans, Divinity: Original Sin 2 for tactical depth and co-op, and It Takes Two for pure cooperative experiences. Larian Studios is confirmed to be working on a new Divinity game, with a Baldur's Gate 3 TV series also in development.
"We're talking about at least half a decade of horror": former Exodus lead explains why he wasn't keen on doing a Baldur's Gate 4 despite Hasbro offering the chanceFormer Archetype Entertainment studio head James Ohlen explained his reluctance to develop Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense pressure to match Larian Studios' success with Baldur's Gate 3. Ohlen stated that building the necessary tools and infrastructure from scratch would take at least five years and expressed concerns about competing with the high standard set by the previous game. He has since left Archetype due to burnout.- The Co-Lead Designer of Baldur's Gate 2 Turned Baldur's Gate 4 Down and I Don't Blame Him — Baldur's Gate 3 Is Pretty Much Impossible to FollowThe co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 has declined to work on Baldur's Gate 4, citing the immense success and high bar set by Baldur's Gate 3. This decision challenges the conventional industry practice of immediately greenlighting sequels to profitable titles, suggesting that Baldur's Gate 3's achievements make a direct follow-up exceptionally difficult.
Exclusive interview: The Scroll of Taiwu is what happens when an RPG stops holding your handThe Scroll of Taiwu, a complex Wuxia-inspired RPG from ConchShip Games, has launched its 1.0 English version after years in Early Access. Founder Zheng Jie discusses the game's unique design philosophy, which emphasizes player agency within a living world rather than making the player the central focus. The game blends life simulation, roguelike elements, and generational drama, offering a deep cultural experience rooted in Chinese folklore and martial arts.
Games Inbox: Will the PS6 really cost £1,000?Readers discuss concerns about the potential high price of the PlayStation 6, with some predicting it could exceed £1,000. The discussion touches on the rising costs of game development, the shift towards digital-only releases, and whether next-generation consoles offer enough compelling new features to justify such an expense.- QuoteworthyThe co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 was reportedly asked to develop Baldur's Gate 4, but declined the offer. They stated that competing against Larian Studios' highly successful Baldur's Gate 3 would be an insurmountable challenge.
Baldur's Gate 2's co-lead designer was asked to make Baldur's Gate 4 after Larian declined: 'Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity'Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro sought a sequel, but Larian Studios declined to develop Baldur's Gate 4, despite having a partially playable build. Co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2, James Ohlen, was also approached but refused, citing the difficulty of competing with Larian's acclaimed title and the significant effort required to build a new engine. A remaster of Baldur's Gate 2 is reportedly in development, with former BG2 lead designer Kevin Martens involved.
Planescape: Torment 2 was greenlit by Wizards of the Coast, 'they were really into what we were doing', but it refused to fund the sequel, and nobody else was interestedBeamdog and former BioWare writer David Gaider pitched a sequel to Planescape: Torment, titled Planescape: Unraveled, to Wizards of the Coast. While Wizards of the Coast was initially receptive to the concept, they declined to fund the project themselves, and no other investors were found. The sequel was ultimately shelved by the end of 2016.
The Perfect CRPG Is a Late-Night Decompression DeviceThis article argues that Computer Role-Playing Games (CRPGs) serve as an ideal late-night decompression tool for players who are tired after work or parenting. The ideal CRPG is turn-based or has no time pressure, features engaging dialogue, and allows for pausing mid-action, with Baldur's Gate 3 highlighted as a prime example.
"Baldur's Gate 3 seems to have done it pretty well," but don't expect Obsidian's next story-based RPG to launch in early access, Grounded 2 lead suggestsObsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2 director Chris Parker stated that while Baldur's Gate 3's early access success is notable, it's not a model that will work for all story-based RPGs. He believes that for large, complex narrative games, the traditional development approach is more suitable, though he acknowledges exceptions exist and that early access can be beneficial for certain titles like the original Grounded.
Vampire: The Masquerade's D&D crossover is a condescending cave-in to people who are afraid of trying something…This opinion piece discusses the recent announcement of a Vampire: The Masquerade rulebook for Dungeons & Dragons, titled Bound by Blood. While acknowledging its potential appeal to D&D players and character-building enthusiasts, the author expresses frustration with the industry's tendency to integrate existing IPs into D&D rather than promoting dedicated systems for specific genres like horror or vampire themes. The article encourages players to explore dedicated Vampire: The Masquerade systems for a more authentic experience.- 6 Vacation Week Games to Finish Before Flying Home | TAGThis guide recommends six games that can be completed within a 5-10 hour playtime, ideal for finishing during a week-long vacation. It emphasizes narrative-driven and handheld-compatible titles like Inside, Stray, A Short Hike, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Firewatch, with Outer Wilds suggested for longer vacations. The article also provides advice on session structure, device choice, and avoiding common vacation gaming pitfalls.
- Xbox Series S Has Gone From No-Brainer To No Thank YouThe Xbox Series S, once a compelling budget option for current-gen gaming and Game Pass, has lost its appeal due to significant price increases for both the console and the subscription service. Coupled with technical limitations that have impacted game development, such as the exclusion of local co-op in Baldur's Gate 3, the Series S is no longer considered an affordable or clear choice for consumers.
Dungeon Masters Season 2 Will Feature Material from Dungeons & Dragons Arcana UnleashedWizards of the Coast announced that Dungeon Masters Season 2 will premiere on July 8th on YouTube, featuring host Jasmine Bhullar and guests Devora Wilde, Neil Newbon, Mayanna Berrin, and Christian Navarro. The season will showcase new player subclasses from the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Arcana Unleashed, and is set in the Anarouch Desert. Additional seasons are planned for later in the year.
Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 show "RPGs are as vibrant" now as ever, Obsidian lead says, even if the genre can look "a little tired" sometimesObsidian Entertainment's Chris Parker believes the RPG genre remains vibrant, citing Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as examples of its current excitement. Despite occasional perceptions of the genre looking 'tired,' Parker has faith in its continued evolution and diversity, highlighting Obsidian's own contributions like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2.
Gaming Seasonal Calendar 2026 | TAGThis guide outlines a seasonal gaming calendar for adults in 2026, emphasizing how life events, work cycles, and weather impact gaming habits. It suggests matching game choices to available time and mood, recommending specific games for different periods like winter backlog season, summer vacation handheld play, and fall routine resets.
Path of Exile used to think 'live service was entirely upside, in all cases', but 10 years of experience and games like Baldur's Gate 3 have shown him another wayChris Wilson, co-creator of Path of Exile, has re-evaluated his stance on live service games, acknowledging their drawbacks after a decade of experience and observing titles like Baldur's Gate 3. While he initially saw live service as purely beneficial, he now recognizes the complexities of community feedback and the pressures of constant updates, noting that finished, single-player games offer a different, valuable experience.