Developer Larian Studios has just announced that the highly anticipated sequel in the Baldur’s Gate series, Baldur’s Gate 3, will not be launching in Early Access in August, which it was initially planned to do. Its initial delay to August was announced in early June, citing how the current COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected the way the Larian team worked. According to a press release, the launch date should be “just around the corner” and will be unveiled in an upcoming ‘Panel from Hell’ live stream on August 18 at 1 PM EST to be aired on YouTube and Twitch.
Good news and bad news. BG3 won’t hit August, but it’s just around the corner. We’ll be announcing the release date, as well as big news on the Panel From Hell alongside @geoffkeighley, @LarAtLarian and the Larian crew. Tune in Aug 18th. https://t.co/S1RlVpJ8yw pic.twitter.com/NCkrnHHpH0
— Larian Studios is releasing BG3 on August 31st ? (@larianstudios) August 4, 2020
For those who aren’t familiar with the Baldur’s Gate franchise or cRPGs in general, Baldur’s Gate 3 is the third installment of the Baldur’s Gate series which is based on a high fantasy campaign from the iconic tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The first Baldur’s Gate, which was released in 1998 to critical acclaim, told the story of the player created protagonist and their journey across the Sword Coast with a group of companions aiming to get to the bottom of a mystery gripping the entire region. It was soon followed by an expansion pack titled Tales of the Sword Coast, then shortly with a sequel called Baldur’s Gate 2: The Shadows of Amn. Since then, the series has been awfully quiet, except for enhanced version’s and remakes, the latest of which was released in 2012.
As for Baldur’s Gate 3, what we know so far is that it will take place in the Forgotten Realms setting from Dungeons & Dragons and will have Mind Flayers as one of the game’s main villains. Improvements will include Larian Studios’ very own Divinity 4.0 engine, a Layered Crime system, expanded Attitude system, dynamic music that changes depending on the tone of the situation, and a lot more. With regards to the lore, there are reported to be hundreds of accurate locations that are true to the Forgotten Realms, with 15 D&D races and subraces, and eight classes, with more to come.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to launch for PC via Steam and Stadia.
