I don't like this kind of ambition. It can only fail. BG3 was already big enough. Just make a game in similar scope and everything would be fine.
Phrases like:
I think there is some tech that we don't have yet,
And I don't know what the specs are on the next gen [of gaming systems] yet, but I hope that it's going to bring us closer.
Are very discouraging. And this easily could become the next Star Citizen.
Changing the design of a beloved character was always met with criticism and skepticism. When James Bond was made blonde by casting Daniel Craig there was as much of an uproar amongst the fan base as when Ariel was made black.
If a movie is good, people will accept the design changes, if the movie is bad people will blame the design changes. And some people just never get over the design changes and will refuse to give it a chance.
The discussion is just a bit more heated because of the current social and political climate. But that's mostly by people who don't even care about the movie and just use the topic to stir the pot.