Right now, manyBaldur’s Gate 3players may have beaten the lengthy campaign it offers after scores, if not hundreds, of hours. There is no doubt players may still be enjoyingBaldur’s GateAct 1, if not its character creation, but the experience has been one of the most applauded of 2023—a year with plenty of stiff competition. Those who have beaten the game have plenty of reason to go back with multiple endings, diverging story paths, new romances to experience, missed secrets to discover, and more to experience, but many players may be wrapping up. The question on many minds is ifBaldur’s Gate 3DLC is happening.
As of this writing, Larian Studios has not announced nor confirmed anything regardingBaldur’s Gate 3DLC. There’s not much to support it historically. WhileBaldur’s Gate 1and2both received DLC, those were made years ago by a different company. Larian Studios’Divinity: Original Singames don’t have traditional DLC. However, that doesn’t meanBaldur’s Gate 3fans shouldn’t have hope.
Speaking to IGNat Gamescom in August 2023, senior product manager Tom Butler explained that the team would be focused on patching for a while, then of course the holidays were upcoming at the time, and then the team would “figure out what [they] do next. But at the moment, we genuinely have discussions [about DLC.] We want to do more. We don’t know what yet.”
The good news is that it sounds like a matter of when, not if, and there’s plenty of profit to be made regardingBaldur’s Gate 3DLC. Not only did the game receive numerous awards and critical acclaim last year, but it surpassed sales expectations from Larian, from Microsoft, and from the industry at large. It was arguably thebiggest surprise in 2023, and it paved the way for Larian’s next game, for its growing role in the industry, and for this beloved IP. It’s a lightning-in-the-bottle moment, and while it’s nearly impossible in the gaming industry, Larian is primed to do so withBaldur’s Gate 3DLC.
It has four major things to its advantage, with the first and most obvious being its current sales success. If even a fraction of its players bought the DLC, then it would still be rather massive. Secondly,Larian’s support ofBaldur’s Gate 3has been second to none, with the company constantly releasing patches and improvements all while communicating with its community. Larian has really established itself as the gold standard for community support, and that goodwill would likely be paid back. Thirdly, its players are super connected to the world ofBaldur’s Gate3, its gameplay and depictions of Faerun, and the variety of characters players have met. From Astarion and Karlach to Auntie Ethel and Isobel, companions, customizable characters, and NPCs are all rather loved. That investment would go a long way.
Baldur’s Gate 3 DLC Has Practically Paid for Itself
Finally,Baldur’s Gate 3’s core game is so expansive that any DLC would be practically immune to post-launch content’s most common criticism: that it should have been part of the main game. That argument is already dated, but the core game feels complete and whole. Sure, there’s the argument thatBaldur’s Gate 3should have added more classesto the game, but it’s still more than what most players will be able to play in several playthroughs. DLC adding to the experience would no doubt go far because it could add those classes, it could add small things like new items and lore, and it could explore grand things related to its core story, detached from its core story, and/or expand to other iconic locations like Amn, Candlekeep, Waterdeep, and so forth.
Luckily, it sounds like Larian is at least interested in exploringBaldur’s Gate 3DLC, and the team’s passion proves it would be more than about money. Of course, the profits make sense from the business side, but the creative side must be equally nurtured. The truth is, if Larian announced DLC tomorrow, it dropping in 2024 feels unlikely. The company would no doubt face the challenge of dealing with many ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s possible permutationsin some regard, even if it were a “this is happening concurrently” DLC. Between that and aiming to hit the same high marks as the base game, DLC would not be a fast process.
That said, Larian should follow FromSoftware’s lead with DLC.FromSoftware announcedElden RingDLCout of the blue and then disappeared to work on it, leaving many fans eagerly awaiting news to this day. The same would happen with Larian, should it choose to announce it early in development, and it would no doubt help the tail end ofBG3. Knowing it’s coming (or even not) would help manage expectations, ensure anticipation is accurate or dismissed, and keep fans invested in a world many have already sunk hundreds of hours into. Even then, it would be hard to say it’s about the money (which, again, would be considerable) because players can feel every once of passion poured intoBaldur’s Gate 3; DLC would no doubt be the same.
Baldur’s Gate 3
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 EXPERIENCEChoose 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 EPICForged 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.
