Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3was one of the most successful and highest-praised games of 2023, and developer Larian Studios have shown no signs of stopping in the new year. The forecast for 2024 includes continued bug fixes, new merchandise, the long-awaited release of the game’s physical Deluxe Edition, and possibly new content, including material teased by the recently released epilogue. While Larian may be moving on to other, as yet unannounced projects followingBaldur’s Gate 3’srunaway success, there is still plenty to come for the popular RPG in 2024.
Continued Bug Fixes
Since the game’s official release in August, Larian Studios has been dedicated to squashing bugs that occasionally plague the massive RPG. So far, the game has had several patches, handling issues including improperly triggering dialogue and lag within the crowded city of Baldur’s Gate itself. It is almost certain that 2024 will feature continued regular patches and fixes from Larian, especially with the recent release ofBaldur’s Gate 3for Xbox Series X/S. Currently, Larian is working to address issues of save corruption and deletion in the Xbox version of the game.
Cross-Play - PC, PlayStation, and Xbox
Currently, cross-play is not available forBaldur’s Gate 3.However, Larian Studios has previously stated thatimplementing cross-play is a priority, especially with the game’s rich multiplayer experience and new availability on Xbox consoles in addition to PlayStation and PC. It seems likely that this update is high on Larian’s list of things to do in 2024, and will be implemented before the end of the year. So far, there is no official announcement regarding when cross-play will be coming toBaldur’s Gate 3,but it is definitely possible that Larian may surprise fans by suddenly revealing it, much as it did the new epilogue content in Patch 5.
Many New Physical Items
Unfortunately,Baldur’s Gate 3’sinitial release in mid-2023 was primarily digital-only, and was not accompanied by official merchandise from Larian Studios. However, the studio has been working to rectify that, and 2024 brings with it the promise of several new physical items related toBaldur’s Gate 3for collectors to enjoy.
The Deluxe Edition
Described by Larian as “Baldur’s Gate 3’srelease to the mortal plane,” theDeluxe Editionof the game was announced earlier in 2023. It is currently scheduled for a Q1 2024 release in America, Europe, and Oceania, and will be available in PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox editions. In addition to a physical version of the game, the Deluxe Edition includes theDivinity-related Digital Deluxe content, a digital art book and character sheets for the Origin characters, the game’s soundtrack in both physical and digital form, a map of Faerun, 32 stickers, two patches, a poster, and a sturdy box for storing all the goodies.
New Merchandise
Just before Christmas, Larian released anofficialBaldur’s Gate 3logo t-shirtvia its official site. The studio indicated that this was not the only piece of merchandise it plans to release for the game, and that it is currently working with artists to produce additional items. These could potentially include more clothing pieces, art prints, small items like keychains or buttons, tote bags, and more. Given the game’sDungeons and Dragonsorigins, miniatures or larger figurines featuring the game’s playable characters are also a possibility. A “Game of the Year” edition of the game, with different goodies than the Deluxe Edition, is also possible followingBaldur’s Gate 3claiming that prestigious award.
New Content: Free Updates Or DLC
With the release ofPatch 5 and its associated epilogue party, some might wonder if Larian has officially declared its work onBaldur’s Gate 3over and the game’s story officially complete. However, nothing has been confirmed, and it is definitely possible that the developers have more in store for 2024. While another major content update seems unlikely, it should not be ruled out entirely. Faerun is a massive world, and there are still plenty of adventures to be had.
One possibility for 2024 is new content forMinthara, a late-joining companion who was until recently exclusive to playthroughs where players made primarily evil-aligned decisions. As of Patch 5, “good” players can now also recruit Minthara, but she is still lacking in dialogue and content compared to other companions, especially when chosen as the player’s romantic partner. Other options could include expanded content for “evil” players, who lose out on several party members, and expansion to some Act 3 quests that currently end rather abruptly.
Swen Vincke and the Larian team have not yet made a definitive statement about whetherBaldur’s Gate 3will have DLC. Should DLC be added, though, there are several options. The game could expand to include other Forgotten Realms locations such as Neverwinter or Icewind Dale. A new adventure could be added featuring Karlach’s journey into Avernus to repair her infernal engine. The enigmatic Withers could also call on the characters to aid him in another adventure, such as a possible encounter with Cyric hinted at by amysterious note in the epilogue.
Other Possibilities For 2024
In addition to the points mentioned above, there are a few other thingsBaldur’s Gate 3fans could potentially expect to see in 2024, as Larian has shown a dedication to surprising its fans and creating humorous tie-in materials.
