Larian Studios
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Former Dragon Age lead says Baldur's Gate 3 studio Larian is taking a "risk" by making Divinity right after its 2023 RPG hit, but he applauds the devs for it
Former BioWare producer Mark Darrah believes Larian Studios is taking a calculated risk by focusing on a new Divinity game immediately after the success of Baldur's Gate 3. He applauds Larian's strategy of focusing on one project at a time, contrasting it with BioWare's past issues of juggling multiple series.
Baldur's Gate 3's Mizora becomes a fully-fledged companion thanks to a new mod, just in case you fancy adding a calculating cambion to your crew
A new mod for Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to recruit the character Mizora as a fully-fledged companion. The mod adds Mizora to the party in the third act, complete with new dialogue and reactions to story events, utilizing repurposed in-game assets. This mod follows similar community efforts to expand the game's companion roster.
Star Wars Zero Company's permadeath makes it a better RPG than most RPGs, even though it's not really an RPG
Star Wars: Dark Forces' permadeath system makes it a more impactful RPG than many traditional titles, despite its tactical game origins. The developer Bit Reactor has successfully integrated systemic and authored storytelling, creating a profound sense of consequence through permanently killable characters.
Astarion Gets His Own Official Baldur’s Gate 3 Prequel Novel This September
A prequel novel focusing on the character Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3, titled 'Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion,' will be released on September 29, penned by T. Kingfisher. Larian Studios' senior writer Stephen Rooney consulted on the project to ensure lore consistency. An audiobook narrated by Neil Newbon, the voice actor for Astarion, will also be available.
I'm locked out of Lae'zel's best ending in my Baldur's Gate 3 no weapons run, and I totally regret…
The author details their experience completing Baldur's Gate 3 with a self-imposed no weapons challenge, leading to regret over missing Lae'zel's best ending due to the inability to use the Orphic Hammer. Despite the success of the challenge, the player reflects on the unintended consequences and the game's dynamic combat system.
"Somebody will make the Half-Life 2 of AI" - after the Rideshare controversy, Saber CCO says something will come along and "change people's minds" about gen-AI
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits believes a groundbreaking game akin to "Half-Life 2 of AI" will emerge, changing public perception of generative AI in gaming. Despite recent controversy surrounding its use in "Rideshare Stimulator," Saber is experimenting with AI, with Willits emphasizing the need for innovation and the potential for AI to create new experiences, drawing parallels to the initial skepticism surrounding Steam.
Baldur's Gate 3 is "a great game," but Warlock devs say their own virtual D&D experience is…
Invoke Studios' upcoming Dungeons & Dragons game, Warlock, is being developed with a very different approach compared to Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3. While acknowledging Baldur's Gate 3 as a great game, Invoke Studios' Jeffrey Hattem stated that Warlock is set in a distinct D&D setting, the Domain of Dread, and will not be turn-based.
AI is 'just a plagiarism machine that makes people lose their jobs' in the eyes of The Talos Principle…
Narrative designers Jonas and Verena Kyratzes from Croteam express strong skepticism about the current applications of AI in game development, calling it a 'plagiarism machine' that harms creativity and leads to job losses. They argue that while the underlying technology is impressive, its current use in profit-driven systems is detrimental, and the focus should be on labor issues rather than the technology itself.
Next big D&D game fully revealed with a lengthy gameplay trailer
The next major Dungeons & Dragons game, Warlock, has been fully revealed with a gameplay trailer showcasing its immersive sim-inspired action. Developed by Invoke and published by Wizards of the Coast, the open-world RPG channels influences from games like The Darkness and Infamous. Warlock is set to release next year and will be available on PC via Steam.
5 reasons why you should play Baldur's Gate 3, especially if you've never played D&D before
This guide argues that Baldur's Gate 3 is an excellent entry point for new players, even those unfamiliar with Dungeons & Dragons. It highlights the game's beginner-friendly D&D 5th Edition mechanics, approachable non-combat options, compelling characters, high replayability, and extensive modding support as reasons to play.
Steam Week in Review: A touch of AI is all it takes to trigger backlash, as a promising new indie falls afoul of slop…
Vapor World: Over The Mind, a Soulslike Metroidvania, faced significant backlash on Steam due to its use of generative AI in cutscenes, leading to a surge of negative reviews. Developer Alive Inc has since replaced the AI-generated content, with director Young Kim acknowledging the hasty judgment and promising to improve. The incident highlights audience intolerance for AI shortcuts in game development, even as South Korea shows high AI optimism.
If you're desperate for more Baldur's Gate 3, here's a 6-hour mini-campaign all about Astarion with 4 different endings and 6 new companions
A new mod for Baldur's Gate 3, titled 'A Dream of Silence: Revamped,' offers a six-hour mini-campaign focused on the character Astarion. This mod, created by Abigail Corfman and developed by lizardphunk, takes place within Astarion's mind and features four different endings and six new companions. While Larian Studios has stated they will not expand Baldur's Gate 3 further, this mod showcases the potential of the game's modding tools, with the possibility of future custom campaigns.
7 developers that will save the video games industry - Reader’s Feature
This reader's feature highlights seven smaller developers, including 11 bit studios, AdHoc Studios, Daniel Mullins Games, Hazelight Studios, Larian Studios, Sandfall Interactive, and Supergiant Games, who are seen as vital to the future of the video game industry. The article praises their innovative approaches to game design and storytelling, contrasting them with the perceived missteps of larger publishers.
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.
