Summary
- WOTC is riding the success of Baldur's Gate 3 to revitalize D&D through upcoming video game projects.
- Gameloft Montreal's new D&D survival game will be set in Forgotten Realms, continuing the classic fantasy universe trend.
- Gameloft's D&D game is expected to incorporate survival and life simulation elements, enhancing the TTRPG experience. It's also set to release on PC and consoles, meaning players on several platforms will be able to join in on the fun - though the game could be in development for a while.
The Dungeons and Dragons franchise is looking to be the subject of many more videogames in the near future, spurred on by the success of Baldur's Gate 3. One of these projects is Gameloft's (currently unnamed) upcoming Dungeons and Dragons survival game.
The critical and financial triumph of Baldur's Gate 3 was one of 2023's few bright spots for D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast. Last year kicked off with the biggest scandal in the company's history—that being the OGL fiasco and WOTC's failed attempts to put down competition. Things only got worse from there, with WOTC sending the union-busting Pinkerton agency to harass a Magic: the Gathering fan, getting into drama over the use of AI art in a D&D book, and with its parent company Hasbro laying off 1100 workers right before Christmas. 2023 was a PR nightmare for WOTC, starting a dozen boycotts against it and whipping up a frenzy of competition—so it's no wonder that WOTC wants to cling to the success it found in the videogame market.
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Everything Revealed About Gameloft's D&D Game So Far
However, with Larian moving on from Baldur's Gate 3, it looks like WOTC will have to take the license elsewhere—something that's already in the works. Gameloft Montreal, the studio behind Disney Dreamlight Valley, are working on a new D&D title. The game was announced on March 14th on Gameloft's X page, alongside a piece of artwork depicting a small adventuring party at a simple camp with crude tools—an image that reinforces the survival genre this game is reported to have.
Gameloft's D&D Game Will Share A Setting With Baldur's Gate 3
One of the few concrete details known about Gameloft's D&D title is the setting. It will be set in the Forgotten Realms, the same world as Baldur's Gate 3. This is further confirmation for D&D fans that the Forgotten Realms is being treated by WOTC as the game's default universe. The franchise actually has a number of other settings, such as the gothic Ravenloft or the sci-fi Spelljammer. However, it's the Forgotten Realms that is closest to the classic fantasy the TTRPG invokes, so this trend makes sense.
Survival And 'Life Simulation' Elements
The announcement of Gameloft's D&D game came with the statement that the title will be a 'hybrid of survival, life simulation and action RPG' genres. What this relates to specifically is unknown, with details still being sparse, but it implies that the game will be on a smaller scale compared to Baldur's Gate 3. The game may focus on more rural D&D adventures, fighting ankhegs and giant rats as opposed to illithids.
Another interesting note about the title's genre is how it relates to D&D's own survival mechanics. Survival has been one of the more lackluster aspects of D&D 5e's rulebooks, with the system being left behind in favor of mechanics like combat or spellcasting. Not only does D&D 5e have few survival features, but many of the game's spells (such as Goodberry) negate the need for survival altogether. It's likely that Gameloft's title will take heed of the rule changes coming to the TTRPG in late 2024, so hopefully D&D's survival system will see a revision.
Platforms
Job offerings on Gameloft's site include listings for an upcoming D&D game, almost definitely the one revealed March 14. These listings, available through a line found in the announcement tweet, reveal that the title is planned for PC and console releases. Moreover, the listings are almost all for senior positions surrounding the game's art and animations, suggesting that the game is still in its early stages. Fans may not see the title release for some time.
- Franchise
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Original Release Date
- 1974
- Publisher
- Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
- E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
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