Baldur’s Gate 2 Is Getting a Remake—And This Detail Proves It’ll Be Legendary
Back in 2000, Kevin Martens delivered Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, a titan of Western RPGs. Now, he’s reclaiming the keys to Baldur’s Gate to breathe new life into this legendary saga.
The Baldur’s Gate franchise just keeps making headlines. After the smash success of Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios, the announcement of an HBO series, and confirmation of a fourth game, Wizards of the Coast is now looking back to its roots. According to PC Gamer, a remake of Baldur’s Gate 2 is in the works—helmed by none other than one of its original creators. And word is, a remake of the first game is also on the table.
Image credit: Wizards of the Coast
Kevin Martens: the mastermind behind the 2000 classic returns
To grasp why this rumor is such a big deal, you need to know who Kevin Martens is. In 2000, he was co-lead designer at BioWare on Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, a game that redefined Western RPG standards. Branching quests, unforgettable companions, razor-sharp writing—the game already bore his signature. Twenty-six years later, seeing him take the reins for a remake is no small thing. It’s a promise of authenticity to the original spirit that few other developers could deliver.
Martens isn’t a stranger to Wizards of the Coast, either. He’s already working with them on Exodus, the sci-fi RPG from Archetype Entertainment. That close relationship likely paved the way for his involvement in the Baldur’s Gate 2 project. WotC is entrusting him with nothing less than resurrecting one of the most revered games in the genre.
Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2: two remakes for a complete saga?
While Baldur’s Gate 2 is hogging the spotlight, the first game may not be far behind. A remake of Baldur’s Gate is reportedly also in Wizards of the Coast’s plans. It makes perfect sense: the two games are a tightly linked narrative duo. The second picks up right where the first leaves off, and players could even import their character from one to the next. Remaking Shadows of Amn without its predecessor would be like starting a novel at chapter two.
Sure, both games already got Enhanced Editions from Beamdog, with bug fixes, a modernized interface, and even new companions. But those were remasters, not true remakes. A genuine rebuild could go much further, reimagining the visuals, UI, and accessibility for a new generation who discovered the franchise through Baldur’s Gate 3.
Other projects inspired by Baldur’s Gate are popping up too, proof that the hunger for this style of RPG has never been stronger.
The technical challenge: modernizing the Infinity Engine without losing its soul
Now for the trickiest question: how do you modernize games so deeply rooted in their era? The originals ran on BioWare’s Infinity Engine, with isometric perspective, pre-rendered 2D backgrounds, and sprite-based characters. A remake will have to choose between several visual paths:
- Full 3D, like Baldur’s Gate 3, risking a loss of the original vibe
- 2D-HD style, like Square Enix’s Final Fantasy remakes, staying truer to the classic look
- A hybrid overhaul, keeping the isometric view but updating the assets
But it’s not just about graphics. Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate 2 used a tweaked version of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules—a system tabletop D&D left behind over two decades ago. Real-time with pause, rigid classes, THAC0 tables: all of this is worlds apart from the experience in Baldur’s Gate 3, with its turn-based combat and 5th Edition rules. Adapting these mechanics for clarity—without gutting their depth—will be a real balancing act. Purists want the tactical crunch that made these games legends; newcomers expect something accessible. Pleasing both camps is a tall order.
The fact that Kevin Martens is at the helm is probably the best argument for a faithful, well-crafted result. Who better than one of the original architects to know what can change—and what must remain untouched?
With a fourth game confirmed by Wizards of the Coast president John Hight—“Of course, we’re making a successor to Baldur’s Gate 3,” he said—and Larian Studios now busy with Divinity, these remakes could be the perfect bridge between two eras of the franchise. No release date yet, but it’s clear: the gates of Baldur’s Gate are far from closing.
