Report: Baldur's Gate 2 Remake Is Already in Development, Original Designer Returns to the Project
Hennadiy Chemеris
According to a report from PC Gamer, Wizards of the Coast may be preparing a return to one of the most iconic RPG franchises of all time. Citing its own sources, the publication claims that a remake of Baldur's Gate 2 is currently in development, with Kevin Martens, one of the original game's lead designers, already attached to the project.
Martens is a familiar name to fans of classic RPGs. He served as co-lead designer on Baldur's Gate 2 and also worked on its expansion, Throne of Bhaal. Later, he contributed to titles such as Jade Empire, Neverwinter Nights, and Mass Effect before joining Blizzard, where he became Lead Content Designer on Diablo 3. In recent years, Martens has once again been working with Wizards of the Coast through Archetype Entertainment, the studio behind the upcoming sci-fi RPG Exodus.
According to PC Gamer's sources, Martens is already involved in the Baldur's Gate 2 remake. The publication also believes it's highly unlikely that only the second game is being remade. Since Baldur's Gate 2 is a direct continuation of the original, it would make far more sense for remakes of both titles to be developed simultaneously and potentially released around the same time.
At this stage, it's unclear how extensive the remake will be. The original Baldur's Gate games were built around Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules and featured real-time-with-pause combat. Following the massive success of Baldur's Gate 3, many fans are wondering whether Wizards of the Coast will modernize the classics and bring them closer in design to Larian Studios' award-winning RPG. However, no details regarding gameplay, technology, or the overall scope of the project have been revealed.
This wouldn't be the first attempt to revive the legendary series. Beamdog previously released Enhanced Editions of both Baldur's Gate games, updating them for modern hardware and platforms. A full remake, however, would likely involve a much more substantial overhaul, potentially affecting everything from visuals and user interface design to cutscenes and gameplay systems.
Interest in the franchise remains extremely high thanks to the phenomenal success of Baldur's Gate 3, which became one of the highest-rated RPGs of recent years and introduced the series to an entirely new generation of players. Given that momentum, it wouldn't be surprising to see Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast revisit the franchise's roots. A fully fledged Baldur's Gate 4, if it is indeed in the cards, would likely still be many years away.
For now, the remake remains unconfirmed. Hasbro declined to comment on the rumors, while Kevin Martens did not respond to requests for comment before publication. Even so, the emergence of multiple industry sources has already sparked excitement among fans eager to revisit the Sword Coast in a modernized form.
Meanwhile, Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur's Gate 3, is currently working on a new Divinity RPG and has already upgraded its engine for the project.
Which approach would you prefer for a Baldur's Gate remake: keeping the classic real-time-with-pause combat system or switching entirely to turn-based battles like Baldur's Gate 3?
