February 9, 2026, 12:24 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Adapting video games into streaming series has emerged as a successful formula in recent years. Netflix has several highlights such as “Castlevania” and “Arcane” on its platform, while Amazon Prime Video is celebrating major successes with “Fallout.” HBO is also actively involved and has now announced a “Baldur’s Gate” series.
“The Last of Us” Creator Hired for “Baldur’s Gate” Series
This is reported by the U.S. industry magazine “Variety.” According to the report, a “Baldur’s Gate” series is currently in development at HBO. Craig Mazin, who previously brought the acclaimed series “Chernobyl” to the network and is also behind the successful gaming adaptation “The Last of Us,” is involved.
For the “Baldur’s Gate” series, he is once again set to take the creative helm as showrunner and executive producer. According to a statement, he seems to be the right man for the job: “After spending nearly 1,000 hours in the incredible world of ‘Baldur’s Gate 3,’ it’s a dream come true to continue the story […].”
“Baldur’s Gate” Has Many Fans
Aside from that, there are currently few additional details, as the project appears to be in a very early stage. There is no information on potential casting or a premiere date, nor are there details about the plot. However, the combination of an award-winning showrunner and screenwriter with a highly popular game series is likely to make success inevitable.
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The “Baldur’s Gate” series, set in the “Dungeons & Dragons” world, began on PC in 1998. Since then, several expansions and sequels have been released, including on consoles. The current pinnacle is likely “Baldur’s Gate 3.” The 2023 release received top reviews and was named “Game of the Year” at the prestigious Game Awards. With more than 20 million copies sold, “Baldur’s Gate 3” is also a massive hit.
It’s not the first adaptation of a “D&D” material. Several film adaptations have already been made, including “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.”
Fans and Developers with Criticism
As “Deadline” additionally reports, the intention is to specifically continue the story of “Baldur’s Gate 3” and directly connect to the events of the original. However, this is not well received by fans of the game hit.
Many criticize this move. On platforms like X, it is noted that this is yet another step by greedy companies wanting to turn a great video game into an unnecessary series. One user even finds it worse than her breakup: “My ex broke up with me via text message, and honestly, this is worse.”
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Larian Not Yet Involved
Particularly dramatic for fans: Initially, HBO has not even approached the developer studio Larian to involve them in the project. Studio head Swen Vincke responded to the question of whether Larian writers would serve as consultants: “Not that I know of.” However, Mazin has reached out to them and requested a meeting. “I think he’s really a big fan, which gives me hope,” Vincke said optimistically.
Michael Douse, Publishing Director at the studio, initially reacted far less diplomatically. Instead, he first “freaked out,” sharing several negative memes or responding sarcastically. Only later did he seem to calm down, saying among other things that one should not “lose hope.”
The Big “Baldur’s Gate 3” Problem
Apart from the fact that many are fundamentally opposed to a series adaptation, the original itself presents a challenge: In “Baldur’s Gate 3,” there are multiple possible endings, variations of the game world, and sometimes dramatically different fates for individual characters that fans have grown very attached to. It is assumed that a single series cannot do justice to this immense variety of possibilities and individual experiences.
The reason HBO can work on a “Baldur’s Gate” series without Larian’s previous involvement lies in “Dungeons & Dragons.” The story takes place in the well-known fantasy world, which belongs to Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast. Therefore, the project is primarily being developed in collaboration with the “D&D” owners, even though the video game’s story is to be continued.