Former BioWare producer and original Baldur's Gate programmer Mark Darrah has a proposal for how a hypothetical Baldur's Gate 4 could come to life, though it relies on a major hurdle: getting Larian Studios to license out its proprietary Divinity Engine.

Quick Facts

  • Mark Darrah imagines Baldur's Gate 4 as an oversized expansion pack for Baldur's Gate 3.
  • Larian CEO Swen Vincke stated definitively in 2024 that the studio is not making Baldur's Gate 4 or any expansions for Baldur's Gate 3.
  • Hasbro approached former BioWare lead James Ohlen to create Baldur's Gate 4, but he felt he could not compete with Swen Vincke or know what to do with the Divinity Engine 4.0.
  • Unlike earlier iterations of the Divinity Engine, Larian is holding its current 4.0 engine close rather than releasing widespread toolkits and tutorials.

The Divinity Engine Roadblock

In a recent interview, Darrah outlined a plan where someone convinces Larian Studios to agree to license its Divinity Engine to build a new entry as an oversized expansion pack for Baldur's Gate 3. However, that outcome appears unlikely.

Larian CEO Swen Vincke has made it clear that the developer has moved on from the Dungeons & Dragons IP entirely. Speaking definitively, Vincke noted that the team is not making new expansions or Baldur's Gate 4, despite fan expectations.

Hasbro's Search for a Developer

Following Larian's departure, D&D IP parent company Hasbro turned to former BioWare lead James Ohlen to helm Baldur's Gate 4. While Ohlen initially considered whether Hasbro could license the Divinity Engine 4.0 used in BG3, he ultimately decided he would not know what to do with it.

"Swen's always going to be the master of building those kinds of things," Ohlen said. "It's really hard to take him off that throne."

Larian has also grown protective of its technology. While the studio released toolkits and modding tutorials for the 2014 Divinity Engine used in Divinity: Original Sin, the 4.0 engine powering BG3 is being held close.

Alternative Paths Forward

If another studio takes on the project, Darrah suggests bringing in an experienced RPG developer like Owlcat. Alternatively, he points out that a new team could build something drastically different from scratch—though that approach would mean facing immense pressure from the community.

Barring a major shift, Wizards of the Coast leadership maintains that Baldur's Gate 4 will happen eventually, but an official follow-up may not materialize for a long time.