Following the overwhelming critical and commercial success of Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast reportedly approached Archetype Entertainment about developing Baldur's Gate 4. However, the studio, led by industry veterans James Ohlen and Kevin Martens – both former co-lead designers on Baldur's Gate 2 – declined the offer, deeming the prospect "insanity."
According to Ohlen, who spoke with PC Gamer, the immense shadow cast by Larian's achievement made the idea of competing directly too daunting. "Having to compete against Baldur's Gate 3? That would be insanity," Ohlen stated. He explained that the challenge of developing Baldur's Gate 4 would have been immense, especially considering the proprietary engine Larian utilized for Baldur's Gate 3, which contributed significantly to its unique identity and quality. Ohlen estimated that building a comparable experience from scratch would require at least half a decade of intensive work.
Even the possibility of licensing Larian's engine was considered, but Ohlen expressed doubts that any studio other than Larian itself could capture the magic of Baldur's Gate 3. He credited Larian CEO Swen Vincke as being "the master of building those kinds of things," highlighting the studio's institutional knowledge and specialized tools as key factors that are difficult to replicate. The monumental success of Baldur's Gate 3, with over 20 million copies sold and numerous Game of the Year awards, has naturally placed significant pressure on Larian Studios itself as it shifts its focus to a new Divinity project.