Hasbro approached James Ohlen, the co-designer of the original Baldur's Gate 2, to lead the development of a sequel titled Baldur's Gate 4. Ohlen declined the proposal, stating that competing with the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3 would be too difficult. This decision highlights the high bar set by Larian Studios' recent hit and the challenges developers face when entering that market.
James Ohlen cites overwhelming competition from Baldur's Gate 3 as reason for refusal
Ohlen was working on a project called Exodus at Archetype Entertainment when Hasbro made the offer. He explained that he would fail to meet the expectations set by the previous game. Ohlen noted that building a suitable engine and development tools from scratch would take at least half a decade to complete.
The reluctance to proceed stems from the overwhelming performance of Baldur's Gate 3. That title sold over 20 million copies and received high critical acclaim from reviewers and players alike. Ohlen described the prospect of competing against such a dominant product as insanity, emphasizing the immense pressure on any new entry in the franchise.
While Hasbro's plan for a fourth mainline entry stalled, Larian Studios continues to develop a new title called Divinity. The studio remains focused on this new project rather than expanding the Baldur's Gate series immediately. This shift in focus leaves the future of Baldur's Gate 4 uncertain and dependent on whether Hasbro finds another developer willing to take on the challenge.
Source: VideoGameChronicles