Larian Studios
Larian Studios business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Baldur's Gate 3 mod adds 6-hour campaign all about Astarion, featuring new companions, 4 different endings, and "a kitty that potentially accepts scritches"
A new mod for Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3, titled 'A Dream of Silence: ReVamped,' adds a six-hour custom campaign focused on the companion Astarion. This mod features six new companions, four different endings, and enhanced combat, offering an alternate storyline to the base game.
My Baldur's Gate 3 no weapons run descended into chaos when Lae'zel got kidnapped, so I reshaped my party…
A Baldur's Gate 3 player details their challenging 'no weapons' run in Act 3, which was complicated by the kidnapping of their companion Lae'zel by Orin the Red. This event forced a significant party respec, shifting focus to magical combat and new subclass builds to compensate for the loss of their primary tank.
RPG companions need to be hateable, otherwise nobody's going to love them
This opinion piece argues that RPG companion characters should be intentionally flawed and even unlikeable to create more compelling storytelling and deeper player attachment. The author uses examples from Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting how Gale's 'petty' reaction to criticism makes him more three-dimensional, contrasting this with the blandness of characters in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The article suggests that imperfections in characters mirror real-life relationships, fostering a sense of realism and immersion for players.
The bigwigs who want AI-generated NPCs and writing think you're too dumb to appreciate a good…
This article argues that the push for AI-generated NPCs and dialogue in video games misunderstands the value of handcrafted details in creating immersive worlds and compelling narratives. The author contends that while AI might offer efficiency, it cannot replicate the creativity and nuance that human writers bring to background chatter, environmental storytelling, and characterization, ultimately leading to shallower game experiences. The piece criticizes industry figures who believe players won't notice or care about the difference, asserting that true game design relies on thoughtful, human-driven content.
Playing Baldur's Gate 3 with no weapons at all forced me to progress my story in a very specific way
A Baldur's Gate 3 player details their progress in a 'no weapons' challenge, forcing specific story progression and exploration choices. This restriction has led to skipping the Underdark in favor of the mountain pass and a greater reliance on spells and tavern brawling, impacting build choices and quest prioritization.
Videogame lawyer says it's become 'just boilerplate' this year to include no-AI clauses in contracts:…
Videogame lawyer Haley MacLean states that 'no-AI' clauses are becoming standard boilerplate in contracts due to concerns over generative AI's reliance on copyrighted material. She explains that while companies are eager to use AI for cost-saving, legal ownership of AI-generated assets is complex, potentially leading to future lawsuits as legislation catches up.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Clea actor finds it "fascinating" that RPG fans give her character "more grace" than Baldur's Gate 3's Lae'zel
Voice actor Devora Wilde, who plays characters in both Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, finds it fascinating that players offer more leniency to her character Clea than to Baldur's Gate 3's Lae'zel. Wilde suggests the difference stems from Clea's perceived family motivations versus Lae'zel's initial self-interest and harsh demeanor.
I've played Larian's RPG for over 1000 hours, and these are the 5 best ways to replay Baldur's Gate 3
This guide explores five distinct ways to replay Baldur's Gate 3 after accumulating nearly 1,000 hours in Larian Studios' RPG. Recommendations include an 'everyone's a bard' run, a 'no weapons' challenge, tackling the difficult Honour Mode, playing as an origin character like Gale or Karlach, and undertaking a Dark Urge resistance run.
BioWare veteran says Baldur's Gate 3 was such a great sequel because it didn't try to be too much like…
BioWare veteran Mark Darrah believes Baldur's Gate 3 succeeded because Larian Studios embraced its own identity while drawing inspiration from the original games and the evolution of CRPGs. He suggests that instead of trying to replicate the past, Larian's unique approach, blending elements of Divinity: Original Sin, made Baldur's Gate 3 a standout sequel that overshadowed its predecessors.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a "great sequel" because it's so different from the original RPGs, says…
Former Baldur's Gate and Dragon Age developer Mark Darrah believes Baldur's Gate 3 is a great sequel precisely because it deviates significantly from the original games. He highlights Larian Studios' ability to blend their own CRPG influences with the Baldur's Gate legacy, creating a modern experience rather than a literal imitation.
Can you actually beat Baldur's Gate 3 without a single weapon? I'm finding out the hard way, and my sorcerer…
A writer is undertaking a 'no weapons' challenge in Baldur's Gate 3, exploring creative ways to overcome combat and exploration without relying on traditional armaments. This challenge involves strategic respeccing of companions and utilizing environmental hazards and spells to progress through the game's early acts.
Devolver Digital decides video games and publicly traded companies don't mix, announces plan to go private once…
Devolver Digital, a publisher that went public in November 2021, has announced plans to return to private ownership. The company cited the challenges of meeting public market expectations for predictable growth in the volatile video game industry, stating that being private will allow them to focus on the long-term health of the company.
Larian reveals 10 Baldur's Gate 3 endings and scenes that almost nobody has seen, including the worst fates the RPG…
Larian Studios senior communications developer Aoife Wilson has revealed 10 exceptionally rare endings and scenes from Baldur's Gate 3 that very few players have encountered. These obscure narrative moments include character-specific tragic fates and unlikely alliances, with some seen by as few as 50 players.
Morning Metaverse
Larian Studios experienced brief content removal from YouTube and TikTok due to alleged 'demonic smut' violations, with a spokesperson for Perez Hilton stating their TikTok livestream was kept up due to moderator error. The article touches on content moderation issues across platforms.
Baldur's Gate 3 third anniversary stats reveal most killed NPCs, most used weapons, and Dark Urge players aren't the most murderous playing the game
Larian Studios has released statistics celebrating three years since Baldur's Gate 3's launch, revealing player choices such as the most killed NPCs and most used weapons. Notably, more non-Dark Urge players murdered the NPC Alfira than Dark Urge players, despite the latter having a forced narrative event for her death. The developer has since moved on to a new RPG called Divinity.
Need a reason to return to Baldur's Gate 3? Then join the GamesRadar+ RPG Club and replay it with us
GamesRadar+ is hosting an "RPG Club" event throughout August 2026, inviting players to replay Baldur's Gate 3 together. The event, led by Jasmine Gould-Wilson, will focus on a "no-weapons" challenge across the game's three acts, encouraging community discussion and sharing of experiences.
Larian gets briefly kicked off YouTube, TikTok for demonic smut reasons in Baldur's Gate 3
Larian Studios' official streams on YouTube and TikTok were briefly taken down due to content issues during a Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough by senior communications director Aofie Wilson. The game's streamer-friendly mode failed to censor certain scenes, leading to the temporary suspension of the stream. Both Larian and Wilson humorously acknowledged the incident, and the channels have since been restored.
Baldur's Gate 3's official livestream gets banned on YouTube and TikTok. Why? "Demon sex."
Larian Studios' official Baldur's Gate 3 livestream, featuring Senior Communications Director Aoife Wilson playing the Dark Urge origin, was banned on YouTube and TikTok due to 'Body Exposure and Sexualized Behaviors.' The ban occurred during a scene involving an Incubus character. Despite the bans, the team, including Publishing Director Michael Douse, took the incident with humor, viewing it as a badge of honor.
"Baldur's Gate 3 is now cancelled": Larian stream smacked down over "violation" for "Body Exposure and Sexualized Behaviors," which feels like high praise for an RPG
Larian Studios' livestream of Baldur's Gate 3 was discontinued on YouTube due to a violation for 'Body Exposure and Sexualized Behaviors' during a playthrough featuring demonic characters. Publishing director Michael Douse shared the notice, humorously noting the cancellation on the game's third anniversary. The stream remains available on Twitch, with the developer attributing the issue to potential mod interference or a setting error.
Baldur's Gate 3's "billion" mods can make it the next Skyrim – just as Larian intended
Baldur's Gate 3 has surpassed one billion mod downloads across its internal client and Nexus Mods, demonstrating significant player engagement three years after its launch. Larian Studios, the developer, released statistics highlighting the success of its modding support, which has helped maintain the game's relevance and player base, drawing comparisons to the long-term success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
