There are plenty of reasons a sequel to a popular franchise might not make it to market. It could be that the gaming formulas aren’t quite modern enough to survive in the current landscape, or maybe the team that first put the series on the map is no longer in one piece. In the case of Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s ongoing legal troubles that’s keeping developer BeamDog from doing what it loves.
Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition was recently withdrawn from sale thanks to some legal complications, putting any work for the sequel on hold. It’s been a difficult time for the studio, and a recent RockPaperShotgun interview with Beamdog head Trent Oster paints a nice picture of just how upset the team is at the moment.
“The prognosis [for resuming work on Baldur's Gate] is mixed. Best case, we can sort this out soon. Worst case, this could be in legal hell for a while. I like making games, but this contractual dispute bullshit keeps me up at night,” Oster said.
The long-term goal has always been Baldur’s Gate 3. It’s still something the studio wants to do, even if this whole struggle has put everyone once working on this series in a sour mood.
“Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition is on indefinite hold, as is the current patch. Baldur’s Gate III, we are still interested in the concept, but currently I’d say were very demoralized,” he continued.
People want to play this game. Hopefully, any and all lawsuits can be resolved in the near future.