Signs of ‘Baldur’s Gate 2’ Remake in Development; Original Designer Returns
Wizards of the Coast (WotC) appears to be developing a remake of the classic RPG ‘Baldur’s Gate 2,’ according to a report by PC Gamer.
| 📒 | – Evidence emerges that WotC is developing a remake of the classic RPG Baldur’s Gate 2 – Original co-lead designer Kevin Martens has returned to the project – Possibility of simultaneous development for the first game; release date remains unconfirmed, with several years of development expected |
Citing sources, PC Gamer reported that there is a high likelihood that both the first and second games will be remade together. Since the story of the second game follows directly from the first, analysts suggest it is more logical to develop them as a package rather than tackling the second game in isolation. If both titles are released side-by-side, the result would be a massive undertaking. Each game offers hundreds of hours of gameplay, spanning an epic narrative that travels from the Sword Coast to Athkatla, the drow-infested Underdark, and even other dimensions.
Most notably, Kevin Martens, a co-lead designer on BG2, has returned to the fold. A veteran of the industry, Martens served as lead designer on ‘Jade Empire’ and ‘Throne of Bhaal’ and contributed to the development of ‘Neverwinter Nights’ and ‘Mass Effect.’ After leaving BioWare in 2009 to join Blizzard, he served as lead content designer for ‘Diablo 3.’ He is currently working at Archetype Entertainment, a WotC subsidiary, on the Mass Effect-style RPG ‘Exodus,’ meaning he has already been working closely with WotC. According to PC Gamer, Martens is currently assigned to the BG2 remake project.
This is not the first time Baldur’s Gate has been revisited. Long before Larian Studios began development on ‘Baldur’s Gate 3,’ Beamdog released highly polished ‘Enhanced Editions.’ However, while those editions were closer to remasters, this remake has significant room for more radical changes.
The extent of these changes remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the original’s combat will be converted to the full turn-based system seen in BG3. This is partly because BG3 was built on Larian’s proprietary engine, and completely overhauling a classic title into a pure turn-based game carries significant risks. PC Gamer added that they expect a system that adds an optional turn-based mode to the classic real-time with pause (RTwP) combat.
Meanwhile, Hasbro has struggled to capitalize on the success of BG3 with follow-up projects. After laying off a significant portion of the staff that collaborated with Larian, the company recently canceled a D&D game project with Giant Skull (Stig Asmussen’s studio) that had been announced just last summer.
The release date remains unconfirmed, with some observers suggesting it could take several years. As a point of comparison, the ‘Oblivion Remaster’ took four years for Virtuos to complete. Hasbro has stated it will not comment on rumors, and Martens had not provided a response by the time of publication.
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