Baldur's Gate 3
News, coverage and analysis tracking Baldur's Gate 3 across the outlets.
Latest coverage
One of the best quests in Baldur's Gate 3 is also its scariest, and it doesn't have anything to do with ghosts…
The Iron Throne quest in Baldur's Gate 3 is highlighted as one of the game's most effective and terrifying experiences due to its unique implementation of a strict timer and the potential for permanent character loss. This design choice subverts player expectations and creates genuine panic, making even minor errors feel consequential and the quest deeply memorable.
GTA 6's PS5 install size is so big you could store 3500 copies of Balatro inside
Grand Theft Auto 6 is reportedly set to have a massive 210 GB file size on PlayStation 5, significantly larger than Red Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. This large download size highlights ongoing concerns about storage space on modern gaming consoles and PCs, especially for players with limited internet bandwidth.
Mass Effect 5 studio was reportedly told to tone down inclusivity by EA after Saudi Arabia buyout, former BioWare dev…
Former BioWare developers have reportedly stated that Electronic Arts instructed them to tone down inclusivity in the unreleased Mass Effect 5 following the company's acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Developers allegedly had to remove an LGBTQIA+ flag from a presentation to avoid causing offense, reflecting broader concerns about content policing after the buyout.
"Developers need to treat Early Access like a real launch, because players do" – Early Access games are on the rise, but so are player expectations
The article discusses the increasing trend of games launching in Early Access on Steam, noting a significant rise in titles and player expectations. Developers like those behind Valheim, Subnautica, and Hades have found success with the model, but others like Deadhaus Sonata have faced backlash due to unmet quality standards. The piece highlights the challenges smaller developers face against larger publishers and emphasizes the need for transparency and a clear vision when using Early Access.
Gameplay from cancelled Transformers Reactivate leaks and it looks amazing
Gameplay footage has leaked for the cancelled Transformers game, Transformers Reactivate, developed by Splash Damage. The footage showcases a third-person shooter with Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, suggesting a promising direction before its cancellation in January 2025. The game reportedly pivoted from a live service model to a single-player campaign with optional co-op.
This Book Release Is Basically GTA 6 Launch For Thirsty Women, And Larian Knows It
Larian Studios has acknowledged the significant female audience for Baldur's Gate 3 by creating in-game content referencing Sarah J. Maas's popular 'Romantasy' novel series, A Court of Thorns and Roses. This marketing move is seen as a clever way to engage with fans of both gaming and the burgeoning Romantasy genre, drawing parallels between the appeal of games like Baldur's Gate 3 and the themes found in fantasy romance novels.
The Fall of Mass Effect – Where Did It All Go Wrong?
This article analyzes the decline of the Mass Effect franchise, attributing its downfall to BioWare's closure and Electronic Arts' business interests overriding creative vision. Despite the success of the Legendary Edition and promising early development on a new title, the project was ultimately cancelled, leaving the future of the series uncertain.
Jordan Thomas, director of BioShock 2, played Path of Exile for over 7,000 hours while working on co-op horror game The Blackout Club: 'I was essentially awake all the time'
Director Jordan Thomas, known for BioShock 2 and The Blackout Club, revealed he played Path of Exile for over 7,000 hours during The Blackout Club's development as a stress reliever. Thomas discussed his gaming history, including early influences like Commander Keen and his work on Thief: Deadly Shadows and BioShock 2, and shared his current gaming habits, which include Hellraiser: Revival and REPO.
BioWare's incredible legacy will continue as long as there are RPGs
This article reflects on the significant legacy of BioWare, a studio that has profoundly influenced the RPG genre with titles like Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age. Despite acknowledging BioWare's own missteps and the detrimental impact of corporate decisions, the author emphasizes the enduring impact of its innovative design choices, storytelling, and representation in games, suggesting its influence will persist as long as RPGs are made.
New Blood CEO confirms it: the worst way to sell immersive sims like Gloomwood and Fallen Aces is to call them immersive…
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry believes that marketing games as 'immersive sims' is detrimental to sales, stating the term is niche and off-putting to mainstream audiences. He argues that categorizing these games as RPGs, like Baldur's Gate 3, would be more commercially viable, citing the struggles of titles like Prey and the success of the 'boomer shooter' label.
Upcoming Mass Effect-like Exodus himbo-fies protagonist after fans complain about his face
Archetype Entertainment has updated the protagonist's appearance in its upcoming RPG, Exodus, following fan complaints about his original face. The new look for Jun Aslan is significantly more conventionally attractive, drawing comparisons to Mass Effect's Commander Shepard. The article discusses the implications of limited character customization options and the studio's decision to alter the protagonist's design.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold 8.7 million copies and made $366 million, analyst says, and that's despite the…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved significant commercial success, selling 8.7 million copies and generating $366 million, with a strong performance on Steam despite its availability on PC Game Pass. Analysts suggest that its inclusion in subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, while potentially cannibalizing direct sales, ultimately increased its overall reach and player base.
Baldur's Gate 3 has sold over 23m copies and made around $1.2b so far, analyst claims - but only 1% of players have crossed the 500 hour mark in playtime
An analyst from Alinea Analytics estimates that Baldur's Gate 3 has sold over 23.2 million copies and generated approximately $1.2 billion in revenue. The figures indicate strong sales across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with PC accounting for the majority. Despite the massive sales, only about 1% of players have surpassed 500 hours of playtime.
Flashy internal trailer for now-cancelled Mass Effect Universe appears online, following EA's closure of BioWare
An internal trailer for the cancelled Mass Effect Universe game, which was in development at BioWare before its closure, has surfaced online. The trailer showcases a new protagonist, crew, combat, and a brief appearance by Liara, offering a glimpse into what could have been. The cancellation and subsequent layoffs at EA, impacting BioWare and other studios like Respawn, have led to widespread disappointment and anger within the industry and among fans.
BioWare Is Finished – Where Did It All Go Wrong?
BioWare, a historically influential role-playing game studio, has officially closed down, with Electronic Arts restructuring the studio and laying off developers. The article reflects on the studio's past successes like Baldur's Gate and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, while also acknowledging its recent failures with Anthem and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, attributing the decline to unsustainable development practices and EA's alleged mismanagement.
'No other studio in the world did it better' than BioWare at its peak, says former Dragon Age lead writer…
Former BioWare lead writer David Gaider expressed sadness over the studio's closure, reflecting on its peak as an unparalleled institution in game development. He shared fond memories of the positive fan reception to Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, which solidified his career choice. The article notes that while the closure was predictable given industry trends, it represents a significant loss for RPG development.
Farewell BioWare, you inspired so many of us, and you deserved so much better than this
BioWare, the acclaimed developer behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Baldur's Gate, has been closed by Electronic Arts. The studio's closure follows a history of critical and commercial disappointments like Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem, despite its significant contributions to the RPG genre. The article laments the loss of a studio that shaped industry trends and created deeply emotional experiences for players.
BioWare's cancelled Mass Effect game would've learned from Baldur's Gate 3 and The Witcher to deliver "a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has"
Electronic Arts has closed its BioWare studio partner, impacting around 50 staff who were in pre-production on the next Mass Effect game. A BioWare veteran shared that the cancelled project aimed to deliver unprecedented player autonomy and choice, learning from titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and The Witcher.
Mass Effect 5 was "something special", dev says – it was BioWare's response to what Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 devs "were bringing to the table"
Former BioWare developers have shared insights into the canceled Mass Effect 5, describing it as a potentially "special" RPG that aimed to elevate player autonomy and choice. The team reportedly looked to Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 and CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077 for inspiration. Despite the promising development, the project was ultimately scrapped, leading to disappointment among those involved and the wider gaming community.
'I believe we were making something special' — BioWare dev says the now-canceled Mass Effect 5 offered 'a level of autonomy and choice that no other game has been able to match'
Former BioWare cinematic supervisor Tony de Waal revealed that the canceled Mass Effect 5 was intended to offer unprecedented player autonomy and choice, inspired by titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. De Waal, who was among the developers laid off after the project's cancellation and EA's restructuring, expressed sadness that fans would not see the game they were developing. He also shared insights into the challenging development of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
