Larian Studios had a working build of Baldur’s Gate 4, but they decided to halt development

Baldur’s Gate 3 fans might be disappointed to learn that Larian Studios had a working prototype of the fourth installment but decided to halt its development. The studio’s head revealed that the team didn’t want to spend several more years on the same project.

Swen Vincke shared this news in an interview with PC Gamer ahead of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s first anniversary. After wrapping up the third installment, the studio immediately started on a sequel, resulting in a playable build. This build was intended to become an expansion to the main game or even the fourth installment, but the team ultimately chose to abandon the idea.

I mean, we probably would have had to redo it 10 times. And do we really want to do that for the next three years? — Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios

Additionally, Larian Studios didn’t want to be stuck working on a single franchise for many years. Vincke raised this concern in a meeting, and the developers decided to “move on.”

I don’t think we, as developers, have ever felt better since making that decision. Honestly, it’s hard to explain or express how liberated we felt [at that moment]. — Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios

The decision to cease development on a Baldur’s Gate 3 sequel was announced back in March of this year. Currently, the studio is working on two unannounced games from different universes, which they promise will be “the best work in the studio’s history.”