Summary
There’s no doubt thatBaldur’s Gate 3is a massive success. However, Larian Studios has announced that it will not be moving forward with the creation ofBaldur’s Gate 3DLC or a sequel titlein the immediate future. But when one door closes, another often opens. Just because Larian Studios isn’t prioritizing it, doesn’t mean aBaldur’s Gate 4is totally off the table. Furthermore, this seems like an excellent opportunity for Wizards of the Coast to at last bring the lost dream ofBaldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 3to fruition.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Allianceand its sequel,Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2were two well-received action RPGs from the early 2000s. The games follow the rules ofDungeon & Dragon’s 3rd Edition, which was the latest at the time, and tells the story of a band of adventurers that come to the famous city of Baldur’s Gate. There was always meant to be a third game in the series, but legal issues, bankruptcy, and the shutdown of Black Isle Studios ultimately canceled the project. Thanks to the roaring success ofBaldur’s Gate 3, now is an excellent time to revisit what could have been withBaldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 3.
A Different Kind of D&D: Dark Alliance
Despite what the title may imply, the aforementionedDark Alliancegames have no relation to the 2021Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliancegame developed by Tuque Games. That game takes place in a wholly separate area of Faerun,Icewind Dale, while the 2000sDark Alliancegames take place in and around Baldur’s Gate. This is why now is the perfect time to try again withDark Alliance 3: players have been reintroduced to Baldur’s Gate, creating an opportunity to explore the city from a new perspective.
TheDark Alliancegames also present the unique opportunity to satisfyBG3fans who don’t prefer turn-based battles. Black Isle Studio’sDark Alliancegames were real-time hack-and-slash affairs. Advances in technology since 2004 would make this kind of gameplay smoother and more exciting, as was made clear when the game was remastered for modern platforms in 2022.Some aspects ofBaldur’s Gate: Dark Allianceaged well, but others–like the graphics–would need to be rebuilt from scratch in order to measure up to current standards. Wizards of the Coast could do just that by finally producingBaldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 3.
Dark Alliance 2 (2004)
What Happened To Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 3?
Dark Alliance 2’s story left off in a way that suggested the next title’s obvious direction. The desire for the next game was clearly there, and allegedly work had already begun onDark Alliance 3. Unfortunately, Black Isle Studio’s publisher, Interplay, failed to retain the rights to theDungeons and Dragons' license, so developers were forced to abandon the project. Interplay, a company deeply in debt at the time, laid off most of Black Isle Studio’s staff and was later embroiled in a lawsuit that alleged the unauthorized use of the engine that was used to produce theDark Alliancegames. At that point,Dark Alliance 3was a lost cause.
With this history–and themixed reviews of 2021’sD&D: Dark Alliance–in mind, a successfulDark Alliance 3release could be like a phoenix rising from the ashes, a triumphant return of a series that was beloved, but ultimately a product of its time. Players ofBaldur’s Gate 3deserve a chance to return to the city that they came to know in the Larian Studios game, and fans of the originalDark Alliancetitles would rejoice in the continuation of the story that was abandoned twenty years ago.
Wizards of the Coasthas an easy win on its hands, but it isn’t clear if it will take this chance. Back in 2019, the company announced that it had eightDungeons & Dragons-based games in the works. In January 2024, however, the company “made some changes to [its] long-term portfolio to focus on games which are strategically aligned with developing [its] existing brands” and canceled five of these eight unannounced titles. Without word from Wizards of the Coast, it’s impossible to know ifDark Alliance 3was on the chopping block, or if it will contribute to the company’s existing brands. For now, fans will have to wait and see if and when they will have a chance to return to Baldur’s Gate in the near future.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
