A brand new mainline game in the massively successfulBaldur’s Gateseries,Baldur’s Gate 3,is currently in early access and will likely remain there for another year. With Larian Studios picking up development of the series, many fans were surprised but excited to hear that the studio behind theDivinityseries had successfully acquired the IP rights to theBaldur’s Gate.
The massive success ofDivinity: Original SinandDivinity: Original Sin 2seemed to be the biggest catalysts for Larian Studios ending up as the developers forBaldur’s Gate 3.BothDivinity: Original Singames have become modernized CRPG classics as they bring a contemporary design and mechanics to an old-school genre. As players continue totest outBaldur’s Gate 3in early access, it’s evident that the direction of the game is largely influenced by Larian Studio’s work on theDivinityseries.
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Divinity: Original Sin and Modernizing CRPGs
Though Larian Studios has been creatingDivinitygames as early as 2002, the series didn’t receive mainstream attention until the release ofDivinity: Original Sinin 2014 andDivinity: Original Sin 2in 2017. In 2014, Larian Studios ran a Kickstarter campaign to fund thedevelopment and release ofDivinity: Original Sin, andDivinity: Original Sinwas a risky venture as Larian Studios would’ve gone bankrupt if the game was not a commercial success. Thankfully,Divinity: Original Sineasily surpassed all predictions as it became the fastest selling game in Larian Studios' history.
The biggest reason for the success ofDivinity: Original Sinwas its ability to modernize the CRPG genre by translating old-school mechanics into something fresh. While games likeBaldur’s GateandNeverwinter Nightswere classics in the genre, many features haven’t aged well such as awkward UIs or clunky combat. Featuring a complex turn-based combat system and unparalleled environmental interaction,Divinity: Original Sinfelt like a natural evolution of the CRPG genre in terms of gameplay. Naturally, this evolution was the perfect way to modernize theBaldur’s Gatefranchise as well. While theBaldur’s Gateseries is known for its complex storylinesand rich lore, the mechanics needed to be overhauled and emulating theDivinityseries was a fantastic approach.
The Revamped Mechanics of Baldur’s Gate 3
AlthoughBaldur’s Gate 3is currently in early access, the first act of the game is available to play and fans of theDivinityseries will immediately notice the similarities in combat. Much like the combat systems in theDivinityseries,Baldur’s Gate 3features an assortment of mechanicslike environmental interactions, verticality, manipulating items, and more. Although the heavy inspiration from theDivinityseries doesn’t feel like oldBaldur’s Gategames, they still fit in nicely with the aesthetics of the tabletop RPG genre. The combat system is easy to learn but difficult to master, and players will find there’s an infinite number of ways to approach combat. Whether it’s through stacking crates to gain a height advantage or exploiting elemental surfaces,Baldur’s Gate 3feels exactly how a modern CRPG should.
WhileBaldur’s Gate 3might feel more like aDivinitygame than a sequel toBaldur’s Gate 2,it still brings enough elements from theDungeons and Dragons 5eruleset to appeal to the veteran fans.Baldur’s Gate 3retains much of itsDnDinspirationthrough mechanics such as roll modifiers, advantage and disadvantage, and team-based initiative. Even dialogue options can be determined from a roll of a dice although Larian Studios has also ensured that losing a roll doesn’t always punish the player. Furthermore, players will be able to use the online multiplayer to bring together parties of four in order to better emulate a true tabletop experience.
Baldur’s Gate 3combines the legacy of the original franchise together with the modernized combat engine of theDivinityseries. It rarely leans heavily into one side, and this makes it accessible for both newcomers and veterans of the series. Even thoughBaldur’s Gate 3is still in early access,the influence it has taken fromDivinityhas already proven to be quite successful in modernizing the franchise. Whether players are new to CRPGs or already love theBaldur’s Gateseries, there’s plenty of depth for everyone to enjoy. Ensuring that games are accessible while providing challenges for veteran players appears to be a key component in the success of Larian Studios andBaldur’s Gate 3is no different.
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Testing the Waters
One of the biggest non-gameplay related changes thatBaldur’s Gate 3has brought to the franchise is the focus on community feedback.Larian Studios is known for valuing feedbackfrom its players through early access, online communities, kickstarter updates, and more. This started in 2014 with the release ofDivinity: Original Sinand it has become an important aspect of how Larian Studios continues to modify and improve their game mechanics. Although players have historically been wary of the Early Access model, Larian Studios has been able to utilize it perfectly forBaldur’s Gate 3.
The idea of bringing back a decades old franchise and modernizing its mechanics is undoubtedly daunting and community feedback becomes very valuable in these situations. ForBaldur’s Gate 3,not every DnD mechanic is going to translate well to an actual video game. Dice rolls can be frustratingly dependent on luck, there are plenty of bugs and optimization issues, and the game itself has a massive scope. By taking feedback from players like it did for theDivinityseries, Larian Studios is able to incrementally improve the game until its final release date.Baldur’s Gate 3is a great example of early access done properlyas it allows Larian Studios to explore different ideas with a live community while ensuring the game will be of high quality at release.
Baldur’s Gate 3is perhaps the most ambitious titlefrom Larian Studios to date. There are countless combinations of skills, elemental reactions, environmental interactions, and dialogue choices that must be fine-tuned before release. To do theBaldur’s Gateseries justice, Larian Studios has opted to utilize everything it has learned from developingDivinity: Original SinandDivinity: Original Sin 2.Much of the success found in theDivinityseries has been emulated inBaldur’s Gate 3from its modernized combat engine to the strong relationship built with players. Although some fans might be disappointed to see the series take afterDivinityinstead of the originalBaldur’s Gategames, Larian Studios has ensured that the fundamental experience has remained unchanged, andBaldur’s Gate 3looks to be a worthy successor.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available in early access for PC and Stadia.
