Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast approached James Ohlen, co-lead designer of Baldur's Gate 2 and current lead at Archetype Entertainment, about developing Baldur's Gate 4 after Larian Studios opted not to pursue a sequel. Ohlen declined the offer, stating that he "would fail" if he took on the project.
Ohlen explained that the primary reason for his refusal was the daunting legacy left by Larian's Baldur's Gate 3. "I wouldn't want to compete against that," Ohlen told PC Gamer. "Doing Exodus is hard enough, but having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity." He felt that stepping into the shadow of Larian's critically acclaimed title would be an insurmountable challenge.
Beyond the competitive pressure, Ohlen also cited significant technical hurdles. He estimated that replicating the technology and engine tools used by Larian would require "at least half a decade of horror." Ohlen even inquired about licensing the engine from Larian, but acknowledged that even that would have been a substantial undertaking. He credited Larian boss Swen Vincke as "the master of building those kinds of things," highlighting the deep institutional knowledge and team expertise involved.
Ohlen suggested that any future Baldur's Gate title would need to be developed by a team unburdened by prior experience and willing to forge its own path, similar to how his team approached Baldur's Gate 2. "That was me back in Baldur's Gate. I was like 'Everyone else sucks and we're going to crush it.' It was us against all the other game studios, we're going to outdo them," he recalled, noting that their inexperience at the time fostered a drive to innovate.
Archetype Entertainment is currently developing Exodus, a Mass Effect-inspired RPG with Wizards of the Coast serving as publisher. Many members of the Archetype team are former BioWare developers, aiming to bring a fresh approach to the sci-fi adventure genre, including a nuanced morality system.