Summary
- Larian Studios CEO confirms that Baldur's Gate 3 will not be coming to Xbox Game Pass.
- Larian founder and CEO, Swen Vincke emphasized the game's definitive experience and lack of microtransactions as big reasons why it can stand on its own.
- Despite the possibility of future changes, Larian is currently content with Baldur's Gate 3 standing on its own and has seen success with high review scores and awards.
Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke updates Baldur's Gate 3 fans that they shouldn't expect to see the highly rated RPG anytime soon on Xbox Game Pass, though the door isn't completely shut. It's been a massively successful year for Larian Studios and its hugely popular RPG, Baldur's Gate 3. After a couple of years in Early Access, the game finally launched earlier this year and quickly earned plenty of praise from critics and players. The positive word of mouth eventually led to Baldur's Gate 3 earning Game of the Year at the 2023 Game Awards, knocking off major contenders like Alan Wake 2, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and more.
However, for many Xbox fans, one of the bigger unannounced news stories following the Game Awards was that Baldur's Gate 3 finally launched on Microsoft's systems. While available on PC and PS5, the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3 saw delays over attempts to get the split screen functionality working on the Series S console to match the more powerful Series X version. The launch was no doubt celebrated by Xbox fans, but it also led to many wondering if this also meant the popular RPG was coming to Xbox Game Pass.
Baldur's Gate 3 Releases First Xbox Update
Larian Studios releases the first Baldur's Gate 3 Xbox update mere days after shadow-dropping its hit RPG on Microsoft's latest consoles.
Baldur's Gate 3 Xbox Game Pass Update
Thanks to a recent interview, Larian Studios founder and CEO, Swen Vincke gave an update for those curious if there are any plans for Baldur's Gate 3 to join Xbox Game Pass. As it turns out, that was never part of the plan, as Vincke confirmed that from the get-go, putting Baldur's Gate 3 on Game Pass was never in the cards. Calling the question a sensitive one, Vincke went on to laud the fact that Baldur's Gate 3 has a definitive beginning, middle, and end, without any microtransactions to earn the studio additional profit.
So for now, it doesn't seem Baldur's Gate 3 is destined to arrive on Game Pass anytime soon. Things could change down the road, as plenty of huge AAA titles come and go on Game Pass over the past few years including Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as all first party Xbox titles like Starfield. In the meantime, Larian appears to be more than happy to let the game stand on its own, and it's not hard to see why, considering all the high review scores, positive word of mouth, and awards Baldur's Gate 3 has earned in 2023.
We made a big game, so I think there's a fair price to be paid for that, and I think that that is okay. We don't charge you any micro-transactions on top of it, so you get what you pay for. Upfront it's a big meaty game. So I think that should be able to exist as it is. This is what allows us to continue making other games.
Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time Baldur's Gate 3 and Game Pass have been linked. Thanks to leaked documents during the Microsoft and FTC trial, emails from leadership figures at the Xbox company weren't thinking too highly of Baldur's Gate 3, labeling the game as a "second-run Stadia PC RPG" and viewing it as a lower priority project to add to Game Pass at the time. Naturally, this estimation was quickly proven to be false considering Baldur's Gate 3's reception, though Larian developers like Michael Douse were good sports about the leak, saying that it wasn't just Microsoft who underestimated the game, but Larian believed in itself and the leap of faith ultimately paid off big time.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
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.
- 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
