Baldur’s Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, has become a massive hit in the gaming world. With its open-ended player choice and extensive content, the CRPG has garnered critical acclaim and a large fanbase. In a recent interview, Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, discussed the game’s success, the challenges of bringing it to Xbox Series S, and future plans for new content.
Vincke expressed that the overwhelming response to Baldur’s Gate 3 has exceeded their expectations. They believed in the game’s quality based on the positive reactions during Early Access. This allowed them to make substantial investments and create the extensive amount of content in the game, including 170 hours of cinematics and high-quality levels.
During the interview, Vincke also discussed the process of preparing the game for consoles, particularly the differences between console and PC development. He mentioned that submitting the game to Sony for approval added extra preparation steps and time constraints. However, focusing on a single hardware platform made it easier to adapt the control scheme for consoles.
One of the key challenges mentioned was optimizing the game for Xbox Series S. The team is working closely with Microsoft to bring the game to Series X and S as quickly as possible. However, due to memory limitations, split-screen functionality may not be available on Series S at launch. The team will continue to optimize and explore possibilities to make it work.
Vincke emphasized the importance of community feedback and playtesting in game development. The Early Access period and extensive internal playtesting helped uncover and address issues. However, the unpredictable nature of player choices and consequences means that some things can only be discovered after extensive gameplay. Vincke acknowledged that patching and continuous optimization are necessary aspects of developing complex RPGs.
When asked about mods, Vincke expressed his love for them but acknowledged the complications they can introduce. He encouraged mod creators to update their mods when new patches are released to maintain compatibility. The team at Larian Studios is also working on improving mod support in the future.
Regarding future updates, Vincke confirmed that they are working on additional epilogue content for one of the characters. This decision was made based on player feedback and the desire for a more complete ending. The team is currently in the process of writing and recording new content to enhance the game’s epilogue.
Finally, when discussing future plans for DLC or expansions, Vincke revealed that the team needs a break after the long development journey of Baldur’s Gate 3. They have been solely focused on the game for six years, and it’s time for them to refresh themselves. While he did not confirm any specific plans, he left the possibility open for future content after the team’s well-deserved break.
