A Baldur's Gate 2 remake is apparently in development, with the original co-lead designer returning

A Baldur's Gate 2 Remake Is in Development, With Kevin Martens Returning

Wizards of the Coast is reportedly returning to the Sword Coast, with Baldur's Gate 2 under consideration for a remake. While Baldur's Gate 4 remains a certainty, the company appears to be focusing on reviving the original BioWare titles—specifically Baldur's Gate 2, though it's likely both Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 will receive the remake treatment.

Kevin Martens, a former BioWare developer and co-lead designer on Baldur's Gate 2, has returned to the project. Martens has an extensive background, having held lead design roles on Jade Empire, Throne of Bhaal, and Neverwinter Nights, as well as Mass Effect. He left BioWare in 2009 to join Blizzard, where he worked on Diablo 3 as a lead content designer. He has since been working with Wizards of the Coast again, contributing to Exodus—a Mass Effect-style RPG developed by Archetype Entertainment, a subsidiary of WotC.

According to a source familiar with the project, Martens is already involved in the remake of Baldur's Gate 2. If both games are being remade, it makes sense given that Baldur's Gate 2 is a direct continuation of Baldur's Gate 1. This suggests that the remakes are being developed concurrently. If they launch together, it could mean a substantial amount of roleplaying and adventure for fans. These are vast, elaborate games with hundreds of hours of D&D-style gameplay, taking players through the Sword Coast, Athkatla, the drow-infested Underdark, and beyond.

This isn't the first time the Baldur's Gate series has been revisited. Before Larian Studios began work on Baldur's Gate 3, Beamdog released the Baldur's Gate Enhanced Editions, which were impressive remasters. However, a remake allows for more dramatic changes. The extent of the changes isn't yet clear, but the idea is certainly exciting.

If you're hoping the original Baldur's Gate games will feel exactly like Baldur's Gate 3, it's probably a stretch. BG3 was developed using Larian's proprietary engine, and turning the classic games into fully turn-based affairs would be a significant risk. That said, a real-time-with-pause battle system with an optional turn-based mode would be ideal.

It's not a surprise that Hasbro, Wizards of the Coast's parent company, is returning to this well. The company has struggled to capitalize on the success of Baldur's Gate 3, particularly after laying off nearly all the staff who worked with Larian on the game. Hasbro also recently canceled a D&D game from Giant Skull, Stig Asmussen's studio, despite announcing the partnership just last summer. That leaves Warlock, an action game that doesn't resemble the Baldur's Gate series in tone or gameplay.

It's safe to assume that Baldur's Gate 4 will eventually come to fruition, but it's likely to take a long time. Any team taking on the project would need to start from scratch. Meanwhile, the original games remain untouched—rich stories, memorable characters, and deep quest design waiting to be adapted.

Remaking Baldur's Gate is not a simple task, but it's arguably easier than building a brand-new game from the ground up. Unfortunately, there's no word on when fans might be able to return to the Forgotten Realms for another adventure. It could still be several years away. For reference, Virtuos took four years to create the Oblivion Remastered version.

As of now, Hasbro has not commented on the rumors, and Kevin Martens did not respond in time for publication. If you have any information about the remakes, feel free to reach out.