Summary
There is no doubt thatBaldur’s Gate 3is a roaring success. After captivating players and introducing a new generation to the world of Faerun, Larian Studios was practically showered with awards. No one was surprised whenBaldur’s Gate 3claimed the enviable title of Game of the Year at the 2023 Game Awards. Taking all this into consideration, it also wouldn’t be a surprise if Larian Studios decided to expand its award-winning masterpiece with DLC – but this might not be the optimal move.
Rather than dedicating time and talent toBaldur’s Gate 3DLC, Larian Studios could move on to the next big thing:Baldur’s Gate 4. As it is now, there is no official confirmation of Larian opting into either direction, butLarian Studios' CEO Swen Vinckedid hint at a “next big game” in a tweet last November. Whatever is next for Larian, it must weigh its options carefully.
Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC Could Get Messy
As sprawling as the narrative is,Baldur’s Gate 3is a clean-cut story. Actions that players take in Act One will echo across the rest of the game. NPCs will hold grudges and remember favors. The developers seemed to have painstakingly accounted for any action that the player might take, from tossing legendary weapons into the abyss tosecretly stealing rune powder barrels. Building onto this system with additional story content would be a huge task for Larian Studios.
If there were DLC added toBaldur’s Gate 3, it might not be woven into the narrative the same way that the story’s individual quests are. The DLC would have to stand alone without much influence from the initial gameplay because of the mountain of choices players make throughout the game. While this doesn’t mean that a DLC standalone story wouldn’t be good, it does depart from the thing that makes Larian games so compelling: the consequences of certain choices. If the DLC involves the 7,000-some vampire spawn that were captured by Cazador Szarr inAstarion’s The Pale Elf quest line, for example, there are five different possible fates of those captives that developers would have to address. It would be a big ask for developers to account for all the permutations that make eachBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough unique.
It’s Risky to Mess With BG3’s Perfection
Baldur’s Gate 3has plenty of replayability. It’s not unheard of for players to reach the end of the game and then immediately start building a new character, curious as to how they can change things on a new playthrough. This is to say nothing of the ability to either play as an Origin character, like Astarion, or asThe Dark Urge, a character who has a twisted, but intriguing story to explore.Baldur’s Gate 3doesn’t need DLC to enhance the game; it’s arguably perfect the way it is. Akin to classic RPGs likeSkyrimbefore it,Baldur’s Gate 3has the potential to be an infinitely re-playable game, with or without DLC.
The Dark Urge is an Origin character who wakes up without memory of who they are. Unlike other characters, they have a unique set of choices that boil down to either giving in to their penchant for murder or resisting this part of their nature.
Baldur’s Gate 4 Sooner, Rather Than Later
By skipping DLC development, Larian Studios could dig into another full-fledgedBaldur’s Gategame.Baldur’s Gate 3took a total of six years to develop, and three of those were spent in early access. If Larian wanted to mimic this successful strategy, then it would be best forBaldur’s Gate 4development to start sooner, rather than later. This way, the studio could have an early access version finished in a few years for players to help work out the bugs and glitches. Theearly access version ofBG3is markedly different from the official release because of the feedback from fans. Via this partnership between developers and players, Larian established itself as a studio that really cares about its fans. Given the glowing reviews from players and reviewers alike, it is likely that Larian Studios will continue this practice.
Larian Studio’s Production History
Regardless of what Larian Studios decides to do next, there is an eager base of fans waiting for that decision. That “next big game” might not be aBaldur’s Gatetitle at all, but rather the next installment oftheDivinityseries, which was shelved after Larian got permission to work onBaldur’s Gate 3in 2017. That said, it would be unthinkable for Larian to abandonBaldur’s GateafterBG3took the world by storm. It is not a question of ifBaldur’s Gate 4will be produced, but when.
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.
