Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3has officially become a smash-hit success, surpassing all expectations that developer Larian Studios had for the latest entry in a series that hasn’t had a new title for decades. Famously having reached a concurrent player count exceeding 800,000 on Steam during a recent peak,Baldur’s Gate 3has become the story of an underdog title from a niche genre rising to the top of the industry through the sheer goodwill of its developer. The original titles of the series may have been highly influential for their time, but Larian Studios’ effort is prospering through much more than name recognition.
Still yet to make its console debut with itsBaldur’s Gate 3’s PS5 editionnext month, the game has sparked discussions of setting new standards among the hype around its PC launch alone. Landing high up on the Steam charts for current and all-time statistics alike, the disparity betweenBaldur’s Gateand other titles that share similar positions is almost jarringly apparent.
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Baldur’s Gate 3’s Focus on Single-Player is Becoming Rare
Online-focused experiences such asCounter StrikeandApex Legendshave been known to dominate concurrent player counts for years due to their accessibility and constant developer support, and a title likeBaldur’s Gate 3stands out in a groundbreaking way. Heavily centered around its richly developed narrative and turn-based battle system, the presence of thisnew kind of CRPGamong the heavy hitters of the industry is a testament to the value of branching out beyond the status quo. Inherently focused on providing a deep single-player experience in the vein of the series’ original entries,Baldur’s Gate 3sets itself apart in several key ways.
While it is built upon a classic single-player RPG foundation, there’s a surprising subversion of this trope that has also become a selling point ofBaldur’s Gate 3. Most players are likely to adventure through Faerun on their own, but Larian has incorporated the uncommon feature ofsplit-screen local co-op play inBaldur’s Gate 3. A rare sight in the modern gaming space, split-screen has progressively become a relic of a time before online multiplayer became ubiquitous. By allowing in-person friends to join a player seamlessly, the game has been opened up in a way that bridges the gap between its esoteric genre and a wider audience.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Modern Take on the CRPG Genre Offers a Massive Amount of Content
Beyond the value that split-screen brings, the simple nature ofBaldur’s Gate 3of a feature-complete, fully realized CRPG experience using modern technology has been a major aspect of its status as a stand-out title. Larian Studios earned its pedigree with theDivinity: Original Sinseries before spending over five years bringing the Forgotten Realms universe to the current generation. The depth of content responsible forBaldur’s Gate 3’s positive receptionis difficult to overstate, with thousands of permutations existing across the myriad decisions the game’s scenario is centered around.
Considering the conversation around both the quantity and quality of content that it brings to the table, another core pillar of the philosophy involved withBaldur’s Gate 3’s development has caused it to stand out in a way that stands out now more than ever. Larian Studios has taken a strict stance against the incorporation of in-game purchases, a nearly unheard-of concept among Steam’s top charting games that are known to be supported by microtransactions. By offering a full package to players that have felt increasingly frustrated with live-service titles,the impact ofBaldur’s Gate 3is certain to be felt for years to come.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on PC, with a PS5 version coming out on September 6 and an Xbox version also in development.
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