Baldur's Gate 3 is Beamdog's "Long-Term Goal," Kickstarter Funding Likely

After more than a decade of spin-offs and particularly thick clouds of nothing, Baldur's Gate is honestly and truly back. Headed up by BioWare vet Trent Oster, Overhaul Games is clearing the whale-sized fantasy spider cobwebs off Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 and adding "new original content in the spirit of the original game." But what sort of new content, exactly? And what's this we hear about Baldur's Gate 3? I spoke with Beamdog/Overhaul's Cameron Tofer to find out.

Obviously, Oster, Tofer, and co have some big shoes to fill and the expectations of, oh, every self-respecting RPG fan ever to live up to. What's to say their ragtag team of vets and "talented friends" can handle it? Well, there's nothing substantial to show just yet, but in the meantime, Overhaul's banking on a one-two punch combo of knowledge and passion.

"I think the new RPGs are great, but I don't think they should be a replacement for classic strategic in-depth RPGs like Baldur's Gate," Tofer said. "I think that's what makes Enhanced so relevant: Baldur's Gate hasn't been replaced."

"I would have to say the characters are what makes Baldur's Gate stay in people's hearts," he continued. "Those characters have so much history, passion and caring behind them. I remember D&D sessions with those characters years before we were even game developers. We had so much personal ownership in them."

"I truly believe that the story and the characters behind are timeless and will have no problem reaching a new generation. Technology will be the access barrier that we're hoping to eliminate."


The Enhanced Editions, however, are being billed as "more than mere remakes." So -- beyond visuals that won't send modern gamers fleeing for their snazzy CryEngines that apparently run on electric power instead of hamsters -- what's new?

"We've been adding side stories, stories to tie things together, unfinished stories," Tofer said. "As far as new types of abilities, we have more announcements coming."

Which is, of course, great news, but it's only the beginning. No, Baldur's Gate 3 isn't A Thing just yet, but if Overhaul has its way, it'll only be a matter of time. Tofer explained:

"Baldur's Gate 3 has been our long term goal. We have a lot of things to put in place before such a project can be launched. So currently there is no such project but that's the one we want to do. Our thoughts have been that Enhanced Edition for BG 1 and 2 just make sense before there's any Baldur's Gate 3."

"We're totally thinking Kickstarter. It just makes so much sense and solves so many problems. I think what Brian [Fargo] is doing with Wasteland is very interesting."

For now, though, Overhaul's taking things one step at a time, and that means regaining Baldur's Gate's rightful throne atop the fantasy RPG kingdom. Daunting? You don't even know the half of it. But to Tofer and co, this isn't a time to leap into the panic room and throw away the key. It's an opportunity.

"The pressure is intense!" Tofer said. "We're doing everything we can maintain the magic and legacy. I totally believe that [Baldur's Gate] is more relevant now than ever. We will be able to reach such a wider audience this time around. It's amazing how global the game really is."