After the massive success of Baldur’s Gate 3, it is not surprising that Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast would want to return to the older games.
According to a recent report from PC Gamer, a remake of Baldur’s Gate 2 is apparently in development, with Kevin Martens, one of the original game’s co-lead designers, reportedly involved in the project.
If true, such an endeavor will not be easy for one of the greatest role-playing games ever released. The original BG2 helped define what a deep party-based CRPG could be and was built around older Dungeons & Dragons rules. A remake would almost certainly need to update those mechanics that made the original great for it's time, possibly toward a newer version of D&D. But once you start changing the rules, you also affect balance, classes, encounters, party composition, and the entire feel of the game.
As such remaking the combat system it's a challenge. The key difference between the old games and the new one is that the original Baldur’s Gate games used real-time combat with pause, a style that many older CRPG fans still love. Lately however RPG audiences have become more used to turn-based combat, especially after Baldur’s Gate 3. Trying to satisfy both the purists who want the original spirit preserved and the new generation who discovered the series with a more modern approach may prove to be difficult. If the remake moves fully turn-based, it may lose part of the original identity.
There is also the question of whether Baldur’s Gate 1 should come first. Jumping straight into the second game makes more sense commercially because Baldur’s Gate 2 is often seen as the stronger and more beloved entry. But narratively, it is still a direct sequel.
Image source: Wizards of the Coast/Beamdog
Nonetheless, the biggest shadow over this entire rumor is Larian Studios. They are no longer attached to the future of the series, and Wizards of the Coast does not have access to Larian’s proprietary engine. That means we should not expect a Baldur’s Gate 2 remake to simply look and play like Baldur’s Gate 3. Whatever this project becomes, it will likely have its own identity.
The involvement of Kevin Martens is a strong sign, for sure. Having someone connected to the original helps give the project more credibility. His knowledge matters when dealing with a title this important. But one original developer alone does not guarantee success.
If Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast are chasing the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 without fully understanding why that game became so popular, this remake could easily go wrong. Sadly, we cannot expect this project to reach the heights that Larian, masters of their craft, reached back in 2023. The name of the game helped them, but the execution mattered far more for its success.
And that is the standard this remake will be compared against, fairly or not.
Still, the potential is enormous. A proper remake could introduce a whole new generation to the roots of the series and give players a reason to experience one of the most important RPG stories ever made. If done carefully, it could become more than a nostalgia project.