Baldur's Gate 4: What Could It Be About & Can It Survive Without Bhaal?

So, it's finally happening! Wizards of the Coast has officially confirmed that Baldur's Gate 4 is in the works. As a huge fan of the series, I'm buzzing with excitement and, honestly, a whole lot of questions. Larian Studios gave us an absolute masterpiece with BG3, which swept the GOTY awards back in 2023. Now, with them stepping away, who's going to pick up the gauntlet? And more importantly, what kind of story can we even expect? Let's dive into the possibilities and the massive challenges facing the next chapter in this legendary franchise.

The Bhaalspawn Dilemma: To Bhaal or Not to Bhaal?

Let's be real, when you think Baldur's Gate, you think Bhaal, right? The God of Murder has been the series' dark, beating heart. BG1 had Sarevok, BG2 had the whole saga of the Bhaalspawn protagonist, and even BG3 wove Bhaal deeply into the Dark Urge storyline. But here's the million-gold question: Is there even any Bhaal left to fight?

Think about it. By the end of BG3, if your Dark Urge resisted their heritage, Bhaal's influence in the city is pretty much wiped out. Sarevok? Probably dead. Orin? Defeated. His cult? Decimated. So where does that leave BG4?

Option A: The Bhaal Renaissance

• BG4 could do a hard reset and go back to its roots. Imagine a new Bhaal cult rising from the ashes, maybe with a saved Sarevok or even a canonical Dark Urge as the big bad. It would feel classic, a true return to form.

• But is that just looking backward? BG3 proved the series could thrive with a new central threat (hello, Mind Flayers!). Do we really need to rehash the same godly conflict?

Option B: A New Chapter for the Gate

• What if Baldur's Gate faces a threat completely unrelated to the Dead Three? The city is a hub of politics, trade, and magic in the Forgotten Realms. The possibilities are endless!

• A power vacuum after BG3 could attract dragons, demon lords, or a sinister political faction. This would let BG4 carve its own identity, free from direct comparisons to Larian's story.

The Identity Crisis: What Makes a Baldur's Gate Game?

This is the core dilemma. Wizards needs to maintain the series' soul. For me, two things are non-negotiable:

1. It MUST be set in (or heavily around) the city of Baldur's Gate. The name isn't just a title; it's the setting's soul.

2. It needs to feel like a proper Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Choices, consequences, rich lore—that's the magic.

But is Bhaal himself a mandatory ingredient? BG3 showed that you could have him in the background (or even absent in a non-Durge playthrough) and still deliver a phenomenal Baldur's Gate experience. For many new fans who started with BG3, the Mind Flayers were the iconic villains, not Bhaal.

Maybe BG4's identity should be about the city's enduring spirit against impossible odds, not just one specific god. The table below breaks down the potential paths:

Story Direction	Pros	Cons
Return to Bhaal	Faithful to series roots; familiar conflict.	Risk of feeling repetitive; limited story room after BG3.
New Threat	Fresh and exciting; avoids BG3 comparisons.	Could alienate fans wanting classic BG feel.
Legacy Sequel	Features BG3 companions; continues their stories.	A long time-skip might write them out; huge narrative constraints.

The Cast Conundrum: Can We See Our BG3 Friends Again?

Okay, hands up who wants to know what happened to Astarion, Karlach, Shadowheart, and the gang? 🙋‍♀️ I know I do! BG3's characters are iconic. But herein lies another problem.

BG2 took place right after BG1. BG3 jumped 120 years into the future. Another big time jump for BG4 would mean most of our beloved companions (except maybe the elves like Astarion) would be long gone. That's a tough pill to swallow. But setting it too soon after BG3 might force the story to deal directly with the Netherbrain fallout, which could feel like a re-tread.

Maybe the solution is a smaller jump, say 10-20 years, allowing some cameos or older, wiser versions of the characters to guide a new generation of heroes. Imagine an older, maybe Lord-ensconced Astarion as a quest-giver!

The Studio Question: Who Can Fill Larian's Colossal Shoes?

Let's not skirt around it: Larian left behind impossibly large shoes to fill. Whoever takes on BG4 faces immense pressure. They can't just make BG3-2. It has to be its own thing, yet still feel like Baldur's Gate.

Many in the community are whispering one name: Obsidian Entertainment. Why? They have the CRPG pedigree (Pillars of Eternity, Neverwinter Nights 2) and a deep understanding of traditional, narrative-driven RPGs. If the goal is to return to a more classic, rootsy Baldur's Gate feel (potentially with a Bhaal-heavy plot), they might be the perfect fit.

But here's the twist: BG3 redefined the genre for a modern audience. Its production values, cinematic presentation, and faithful turn-based D&D combat are now the expectation. Any studio, be it Obsidian or another, will have to match that level of polish and player freedom while telling a fresh story.

Final Thoughts: What Do We Want?

As fans, what are we really looking for in Baldur's Gate 4? Is it the comforting, dark embrace of a Bhaal-centric plot? Or are we ready for the city to defend itself against a terrifying new foe we haven't even imagined yet?

For me, the ideal BG4 would:

• Honor the past with nods to the Bhaalspawn saga without being chained to it.

• Embrace the present with the high-quality, choice-driven gameplay BG3 established.

• Build a new future for the city, with a threat that feels both epic and uniquely Baldur's Gate.

The developers have a monumental task ahead. But if they can capture the soul of the city and the spirit of D&D adventure, they might just pull off a miracle. What do you think? Are you Team Bhaal or Team New Threat for BG4? Let me know your theories below! 👇