Summary
- Larian's dedication to Baldur's Gate 3 shines through consistent content updates and bug fixes.
- New subclasses from D&D 5th Edition could enhance gameplay, adding depth and replayability.
- Larian Studios hasn't revealed any DLC just yet, but the game's success makes such an expansion seem inevitable.
Nearly three years in early access and six months past its launch, Baldur's Gate 3 has yet to lose a single ounce of its luster. With unparalleled depth, uncompromising player freedom, and a passionate mod-making community, Baldur's Gate 3 appears poised to maintain its relevance for years to come, though some key additions to subclasses could be a great tradeoff for Larian Studios between the effort it would take to implement and the longevity and replayability it would add to the game.
Larian is Just Getting Started
Most studios would be content to take a victory lap and well-deserved hiatus after releasing a generational title with BG3's near-clean sweep on 2023's Game of the Year award wins. Larian, however, has kept its nose pressed to the grindstone, delivering content and balance patches for Baldur's Gate 3 at a rate almost as commendable as the game itself. Hotfix 17 arrived in mid-January with some bug fixes, further cementing that the studio has no intention of slowing momentum for its magnum opus anytime soon. While there are no official announcements for a larger-scale DLC or expansion for Baldur's Gate 3, Larian has hinted that it is open to the idea, and that plans are in motion.
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Baldur's Gate 3 Has a Huge Advantage With Its Source Material
Built around the lore and ruleset of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, the framework for additional subclasses already exists, ripe for the taking if Larian decides to go that route. The well goes deep for such a time-honored IP, and there are plenty of choices that would fit in seamlessly with Baldur's Gate 3. Among the most highly-requested include:
- Swashbuckler Rogue
- Celestial and Hexblade Warlock
- Aberrant Mind and Shadow Sorcerer
- Twilight Cleric
- Rune Knight Fighter
Of course, Larian has proved its merit beyond a shadow of a doubt, so if it were to homebrew its own subclasses for theoretical Baldur's Gate 3 DLCs, it might strike gold. There is also the untapped reservoir of the DnD 5e Artificer class. While not officially a core class in Dungeons and Dragons 5e, its addition makes it the sole omission for starting classes in Baldur's Gate 3. From Alchemist to Artillerist, the Artificer class and its subclasses would work well within the parameters of the game, and seem a likely candidate for a DLC down the road.
Larian Has the Resources to Both Pivot and Stay the Course
Contemplating Larian's future and what that means for Baldur's Gate 3, it bears mentioning that studio co-founder and CEO, Swen Vincke, is already hard at work on the next title. In an interview shortly after Baldur's Gate 3' s release, Vincke stated, "so, I'm going to move onto the next game, the other team is going to be working on patches and stuff, but for me personally, this creative path is done now. I'm closing the chapter." The other team Vincke mentioned in the interview will continue to hone Baldur's Gate 3 for an undetermined amount of time. Given the live-service landscape and current standard for post-launch support in gaming, coupled with the game's financial and critical success, Larian will more than likely be keeping that team on Baldur's Gate 3 for years to come.
There are boundless avenues Larian could traverse to build out Baldur's Gate 3. Expanding on its source material, there are races, factions, locals, and narratives the studio could pull from for inspiration. Adding some of the most sought after subclasses to the game could be a relatively safe entry point for additional content, spurring players toward another playthrough, or could come as part of a larger packaged DLC meant to make a big splash as Larian gears up to announce its next title. Either way, the future for Baldur's Gate 3 and its studio are bright.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
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 EXPERIENCE
Choose 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 EPIC
Forged 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.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
