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Baldur’s Gate 3: Everything We Know

Published

1 year ago

December 17, 2022

Baldur's Gate 3 finally returns – it only took twenty years or so. I won’t complain about the long hiatus as long as the adventure continues (and on 5th Edition, what!) Aside from the obvious change in technology, Baldur's Gate 3 will feature a new tale, expansive new areas, additional playable races, and classes, including fan favorites, and much more.

If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, perhaps you’re looking to experience the current edition of the Dungeons & Dragons rules in a video game. Or, you’re simply looking for the next party-based RPG set to take your mind off things. Well, Baldur's Gate III claims to honor everything we love about the classic pen-and-paper Dungeons & Dragons, and is a sequel to an iconic RPG series one can only hope is here to stay for good this time.

But what exactly do we know about Baldur's Gate 3? Well, read on to find out everything you need to know about Baldur's Gate 3 ahead of its actual release.

What is Baldur's Gate 3?

Baldur's Gate 3 is an upcoming turn-based, fantasy, RPG game currently in development by Belgium Larian Studios. It’s the third installment to the classic Baldur's Gate series, first released in 1998, and faithfully encapsulates the popular Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG system of dungeoneering into the land of the Forgotten Realms.

Given the success of its predecessors, it's unclear why Baldur's Gate III took so long to get to the point of actual development. Following the release of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn in 2000, developer BioWare went silent and the series went dark. Now, Larian Studios has taken over the project with promises to amplify it to modern standards. Frankly, all we can say at this point is, “it's been a long time coming” and, “we absolutely cannot wait”.

Story

Mind flayers who have escaped the Underdark cause havoc by implanting parasites in the brains of other beings. And you and your party members happen to fall victim. So, now, you have a mind-flayer invasion on your hands and are caught in the crossfire, which will lead to a series of wild adventures down the road.

Larian Studios is aiming for a fresh story, so you should have no trouble avoiding spoilers. The overall structure, however, revolves around one of the most iconic D&D wars: the Blood War, with some of the settings, such as Avernus, the first layer of hell, and Baldur's Gate, being familiar. And at the epicenter of the war is your party, caught in the crossfire of those who seek to destroy the world versus those who seek to control it.

Gameplay

Baldur's Gate 3: Everything We Know

Baldur's Gate 3 sings to the beat of the world of Dungeons & Dragons. From races to classes to setting to craftsmanship to combat … everything is pulled right out of and perfectly encapsulates the classic pen-and-paper game from so many years ago. The only difference is Baldur's Gate III is the first time players will experience the Dungeons & Dragons rules in its current 5th edition.

The land of the Forgotten Realms features different playable races and classes that players get to choose from. During the game, you’ll face tough choices between good and evil, with some having a not-so-fine line between them. The characters you interact with are also pretty varied, from druids to goblins to dwarfs to dark elves to vampire spawns to tentacle-faced mind flayers and so much more – after all, this is a world where fantasy lives.

Adventures are engaging and complex. Whether it’s solving conflict between races or taking the trip down to the Underdark world and coming face to face with the devil. Baldur's Gate 3 is just as exciting, as intense, and as compelling as Dungeons & Dragons, except bigger, better, and up to modern gaming standards.

Unlike previous games, Baldur's Gate 3 is switching to turn-based combat. It features third-person gameplay similar to Divinity: Original Sin as well as dialogue options and a compelling choice-based narrative. The game also offers options to play solo, selecting one of four heroes, or online in co-op mode with three other party members.

Development

The previous two installments were developed by Bioware and released in 1998 and 2000 respectively. However, Larian Studios has taken charge of the ship to develop Baldur's Gate 3 as per the current D &D rule set.

You may know Larian Studios from their successful Divinity: Original Sin series of games, but Baldur's Gate 3 will be much different in that it pulls its story and setting straight from Dungeons & Dragons.

Before the official announcement, Baldur's Gate 3 was barely on people’s minds after decades of waiting. Now, Early Access is officially out now on Mac and PC with Larian Studios to receive feedback on the presentation, gameplay, and overall feel of the game ahead of the final release.

Even though the Early Access mode only features Act 1 (the full game has three) and is but an unfinished version of the game, it’s clear from its roughly 25 hours worth of content that Baldur's Gate III is an experience unlike any other with potential to sink hours into.

Trailer

Baldurs Gate 3 Official Launch Month Trailer | The Game Awards 2022

Watch this video on YouTube

The latest trailer was revealed at the Game Awards in 2022. It features sneak peeks into the gameplay, Forgotten Realms villains, and a few familiar characters like Jaheira and Minsc making an appearance.

Baldur's Gate 3 Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Baldur's Gate 3: Everything We Know

During The Game Awards, it was announced that Baldur's Gate 3 will release in August 2023. At the time of writing, it’s confirmed the game will be available on Mac and PC.

At the moment, you’re free to grab Early Access on Steam. However, you can preorder the Collector’s Edition, which wraps within a mind-flayer-inspired box, a: