Hello everyone,
The past few months have been a remarkable journey for us at Larian Studios, filled with visits to prestigious award shows in the gaming industry. We’re incredibly grateful for the accolades we’ve garnered, a testament to the love and support from both our amazing community and esteemed colleagues.
If you’re caught up, you’d know that we recently graced the BAFTA Games Awards 2024, decked in our finest attire, to receive numerous awards for “Baldur’s Gate 3,” including for Narrative, Music, Performer in a Supporting Role (with a nod to Andrew Wincott’s portrayal of Raphael), the Players’ Choice award voted by fans, and Best Game.
“Baldur’s Gate 3” has now clinched its fifth Game of the Year title, following successes at the Golden Joysticks, Game Developers Choice, DICE, and The Game Awards. This makes it the first game ever to achieve such an honor across all major awards ceremonies. We’re absolutely elated, and our families couldn’t be prouder. None of this could have been possible without your unwavering faith in us.
Your dedication was evident even before the accolades. Every piece of feedback, livestream, meme, and artwork dedicated to “Baldur’s Gate 3” signaled to us that we were crafting something extraordinary. Although awards are deeply cherished, it’s truly this vibrant community that has propelled us forward. Whether you’ve been with us since the infamous Astarion body pillow or joined during the game’s Early Access; whether you tuned into our Panel From Hell livestreams or discovered the game post-launch, we owe our heartfelt thanks to you for emboldening the whimsical yet passionate spirit of this community.
Image Credit: Getty Images for BAFTA
We have a plethora of surprises awaiting. Our imminent game update, Patch 7, promises enriching ‘evil’ endings for more diabolical storytelling outcomes – a call to all you sinister strategists out there.
Here’s a sneak peek at what’s upcoming, but be wary of spoilers!
Got ‘em.
What’s the best way to get blood stains out?
Our acclaimed BAFTA-winning composer, Borislav Slavov, is also lending his musical genius to the newly crafted cinematic scenes.
“Dark endings usually influence the music to adopt a more ominous tone. Here’s a glimpse at a piece from one of the new ending sequences.” – Bobby, Composer & Music Director.
This one gave us shivers!
Patch 7 is also set to tackle various bugs reported by you, alongside introducing our official modding tools, promising a customizable and even more immersive gameplay experience. Moreover, the journey post-Patch 7 includes ongoing commitment towards bug resolutions, enhanced performance, and stability for the best gaming experience.
And while we are keen on introducing Crossplay and Photo Mode to Baldur’s Gate 3, these features are earmarked for future updates due to their extensive development requirements.
Navigating through the intricacies of game development has been enlightening, and your insights have been central to our growth. We’re boosting our pre-release evaluations with additional internal playtesting, dovetailing with our regular quality assurance workflows.
With Patch 7 brimming with both refinements and fresh content yet to be detailed, we are planning a closed beta on PC for a select global player audience, with more information to follow.
Having the privilege to create within the Dungeons & Dragons realm has been a dream realized. However, as Swen has stated, we will not be extending the narrative of Baldur’s Gate 3 or developing further expansions or sequels.
Embracing our independence since 1996, we are driven by innovation and are currently channeling our creative energies into developing original IPs. We are thrilled about what lies ahead and are eager to share more about these projects in due time.
As we pivot towards exciting new ventures, rest assured, the essence that defined Baldur’s Gate 3 will continue to inspire our future creations, shaped profoundly by your influence and choices. We are excited about embarking on this new adventure with you.
For those apprehensive about our new direction, consider this:
“While it’s uncertain if we’ll achieve everything envisioned, judging by our plans in narrative, visual, and gameplay domains, I believe what we’re crafting now will set a new standard for us. The anticipation is akin to a child’s eagerness, wishing to share it with everyone yet having to wait for the perfect moment. Yes, we’re hyping it up, but only because it truly looks and feels exceptional.” – An enthusiastic Swen, April 17th 2024.
With all our hearts, thank you.