While it was an inevitability, it seems that Wizards of the Coast wants the world to know that it is makingBaldur’s Gate 4. Up until now, the question of who will take over Larian Studios has yet to be answered, and while there are some studios working with Wizards, none have taken the mantle ofBG4. Still, a successor to 2023’s GOTY is coming, and it has a lot of questions to address.
The direction of the story is aninteresting question that warrants an answer. While it is the biggestD&Dgame around,Baldur’s Gatecan’t just be about anything in the Forgotten Realms, with different gamescovering different areas and events.Neverwinter Nightsis mainly about the city of Neverwinter and the King of Shadows, andBG4would have to be set aroundBaldur’s Gate.
What Would BG4’s Story Even Be About?
Can It Go Back To The Bhallspawn?
Baldur’s Gate,as a series, is usually aboutthe battle between the city and its defenders against the powers of Bhaal.BG1has Sarevok, a Bhaalspawn, and his cult as the villains.BG2changes this a bit by having Irenicus, a wizard, becoming a significant threat by taking a portion of Bhaal’s powers, with it continuing the adventures of The Bhaalspawn (BG1 & 2’s protagonist, who is canonically Abdel Adrian).
Bhaal is the Lord of Murder and god of violence and ritualistic killing, being one of the Dead Three and a persistent villain in theBaldur’s Gateseries.
WhileBG3shifts thefocus to the Mind Flayers, Bhaal still plays a significant role as one of the Dead Three.He is critical as part of a Dark Urge playthrough, essentially makingBG3’s protagonist another Bhaalspawn, which feels like it could be canon. The problem is that there isn’t much of Bhaalleft at the end ofBG3, assuming the world hasn’t ended.
If the Dark Urge doesn’t give in to their father’s blood and becomes a tyrannical god emperor,Bhaal and his influence will largely be expunged from Baldur’s Gate. Sarevok is probably dead, Orin has to be killed, and most of Bhaal’s followers have probably been taken care of. It doesn’t giveBaldur’s Gate 4a lot of wiggle room.
WithThe Game Business' interview with Wizard’s president confirming there is going to be a successor toBG3, BG4has to take place in the city at some point and probably has to have some involvement with Bhaal to be a properBaldur’s Gategame. Another time skip could be beneficial,withBG3taking place 120 years afterBG2;however, many people likely want to seethecast of BG3 again. Too long a time skip will write many of them out, leavingBG4in a strange spot.
Can BG4 Be A Baldur’s Gate Game Without Bhaal?
Wizards Of The Coast Needs To Maintain Baldur’s Gate’s Identity
Baldur’s Gate,taking place in the city of the same name, is obviously a non-negotiable. It is somewhat debatable whether theinfluence of Bhaal is as needed forBG4. The game needs to have the same identity as the rest of the series to be a sequel,but withBG3letting Bhaal take somewhat of a backseat (especially without Durge), there is a world where a Bhaal-lessBaldur’s Gategame could work.
Most, if not all, of Bhaal’s influence has been purged from the city anyway, and while this can change, it might not need to for modern fans.Those who have only playedBG3probably weren’t as invested in Bhaal as they were with the Mind Flayers, since they are front and center throughout all three acts.BG3felt different from its predecessors, and this worked in the game’s favor.
BG4could end up doing something similar in this regard. As great asBG3was,Baldur’s Gate 4shouldn’t try to emulate it too much without Larian, for fear of feeling like a knock-off, not a sequel. Perhaps a move away from Bhaal could help,with the city ofBaldur’s Gatefacing a new threat outside the Dead Three,the power of the Mind Flayers, and their great Netherbrain.
Then again,Baldur’s Gate 4could take a different approach and return to the Bhaal-centric plot ofBaldur’s Gate 1. This way, it can return to the series' roots and distance itself fromBG3,so the comparisons with Larian are somewhat lessened. It would have to keep Sarevok alive or even have Durge as a potential villain, but the cult of Bhaal would have to be saved in some way.
BG4’s Studio Has Massive Shoes To Fill
And Its Story Is But One Of Many Issues
WIth Larian stepping away from the series,the nextBaldur’s Gategame has impossibly large shoes to fill. It has to remain distinctlyBaldur’s Gate, but moving away from the story that Larian told is probably the best to avoid too many comparisons. Using Mind Flayers again would likely be a death sentence for the title, making it appear as though there were no good ideas forBaldur’s Gate 4.
Many wantObsidian todevelopBG4, given its work on many traditional-style CRPGs, andthis traditional outlook could help it create a game more true to the originalBaldur’s Gatetitles. This could also mean leaning more heavily into Bhaal’s influence. Then again,BG3has become what many expect out of the series now, andBG4probably has to be turn-based and play like actualD&Dto succeed.
Ultimately, the question forBaldur’s Gate 4becomes how far it can stray from the core identity of the series while still being aBaldur’s Gategame. It has to take place inBaldur’s Gate, but it’s up for debate whether it needs to include the Bhaalspawn. If there are going to be moreD&Dprojects, the Bhaalspawn are probably needed to helpBaldur’s Gatefeel likeBaldur’s Gatewithout being just anotherD&DRPG.
