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Baldur’s Gate 3 – Release Date, Character Creation, And More

By xsisted78 | May 30, 2023

After three years of meticulous fine-tuning during its early access phase, the highly anticipated arrival of Baldur’s Gate 3 is nearly upon us. This sequel, which has been in the making for over two decades, bears the mark of its originator, Black Isle Studios, albeit with a troubled past. Unfortunately, the studio’s attempt at bringing this game to life was thwarted when it ceased operations back in 2003. However, hope was reignited when Belgian developer Larian Studios took up the mantle, assuming the responsibility of crafting this monumental title. With Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios aims to deliver not just a mere game, but a profound and immersive journey into the realms of Dungeons & Dragons, staying true to the legacy of its predecessors.

In the tradition of the franchise, Baldur’s Gate 3 draws upon the vast tapestry of lore and history established by Wizards of the Coast’s intellectual property. This newest installment offers players the opportunity to fulfill their wildest fantasy aspirations within the captivating world of the Forgotten Realms. As you embark on this epic adventure, you will be granted ample tools to meticulously shape your character, from creating a detailed avatar to determining their unique origin. Furthermore, you will have the ability to recruit companions who will fight alongside you, adding depth and camaraderie to your quest. With its grand release inching closer, here’s a comprehensive overview of everything we currently know about Baldur’s Gate 3.

Release Date

Although Baldur’s Gate 3 has been accessible through Steam’s early access for several months, if you have been patiently awaiting the full version of the game, your anticipation will soon be rewarded. The official release date for Baldur’s Gate 3 has been set for August 31, 2023. Remarkably, this month appears to be relatively unencumbered by major releases, aside from the unveiling of Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon, From Software’s highly anticipated sequel to their revered action series.

Platforms

At launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 will be available for PC, Mac, and the PlayStation 5. However, it remains uncertain whether ports for the Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch will materialize. Regrettably, the game will not be made available for previous-generation PlayStation and Xbox systems. Currently, Larian Studios faces technical challenges in optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version of Baldur’s Gate 3, and they have expressed their hesitance in announcing an Xbox release until these issues are fully resolved.

Baldur’s Gate 3 PC requirements

Aside from taking up a sizable amount of space on your hard drive, Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t too demanding with its pc REQUIREMENTS.

Minimum

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel I5 4690 / AMD FX 8350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970 / RX 480 (4GB+ of VRAM)
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space

Recommended

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10 64-bit
Processor: Intel i7 8700K / AMD r5 3600
Memory: 16 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia 2060 Super / RX 5700 XT (8GB+ of VRAM)
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 150 GB available space

Does Baldur’s Gate 3 have multiplayer?

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers an exciting multiplayer experience for up to three players. You and your friends can join forces and each take control of a character, immersing yourselves in the rich world of the game. One of the notable features of multiplayer in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the ability to assign companions to any player in the party. This allows for greater flexibility and strategic gameplay, as each player can have their own set of allies to control and coordinate with.

While multiplayer allows you to split up and embark on individual adventures, it’s important to note that certain cutscenes and activities in the game require all players to be together. This ensures that everyone can experience key story moments and participate in important events together. However, when it comes to combat, the game utilizes a turn-based system. If players have aligned initiative, meaning their characters’ turns occur at the same time, they can take their actions simultaneously. On the other hand, if the characters have different initiative values, players will have to wait their turn accordingly.

In the multiplayer mode of Baldur’s Gate 3, relationships and choices are independently tracked for each player. This means that decisions made by one player may have consequences that are specific to their character’s story arc and development, adding a layer of personalization and individual progression to the multiplayer experience.

Cross-save progression

Furthermore, Baldur’s Gate 3 supports cross-save progression, allowing players to seamlessly transfer their game progress between different platforms. Whether you’re playing on PC, Mac, or the PS5, you can continue your adventure without losing any of your hard-earned progress. This feature provides flexibility and convenience for players who may want to switch platforms or continue their game on a different device.

Character creation

Before embarking on your epic journey, you’ll have the opportunity to create a unique character in Baldur’s Gate 3. Character creation allows you to choose not only your race and class, but also customize your character’s gender, face, and physical attributes. Additionally, you can select background traits that further define your character’s personality and abilities. Some traits may synergize particularly well with certain classes, offering advantages and enhancing specific playstyles. For instance, the Criminal background provides expertise in deception and stealth, while the Sage background grants proficiency in Arcana and history. Alternatively, you can opt for the Entertainer background, which excels in performance and acrobatics.

With its robust multiplayer features, cross-save functionality, and extensive character customization options, Baldur’s Gate 3 provides an immersive and dynamic gaming experience that can be enjoyed with friends while allowing each player to forge their own path in the world of the game.

Baldur’s Gate 3 classes

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a wide range of classic classes for players to enjoy, and among them is the introduction of a new combat career, the Bard. These musical masters are formidable forces, bringing unique abilities and playstyles to the game. The combat-focused College of Valor bards excel at buffing allies and debuffing enemies with their skillful lyrical performances, while the College of Lore subclass allows them to use Cutting Words to undermine foes. Additionally, the College of Valor subclass enables bards to enhance their dice rolls, ensuring greater success on the battlefield. It’s important to note that while the Monk class is not available in the early access version, it is expected to be included in the full game, adding further diversity to the available classes.

In Baldur’s Gate 3, choosing your race is a crucial decision when creating your character. Each race possesses its own unique strengths and weaknesses, allowing players to tailor their attributes to their preferred playstyle. Currently, the game offers a selection of 26 races to choose from:

Asmodeus Tiefling
Deep Gnome
Drow
Drow Half-Elf
Dwarf
Elf
Forest Gnome
Githyanki
Gnome
Gold Dwarf
Half-Drow
Half-Elf
Halfling
High Elf
High Half-Elf
Human
Lightfoot Halfling
Lolth-Sworn Drow
Mephistopheles Tiefling
Rock Gnome
Seldarine Drow
Shield Dwarf
Strongheart Halfling
Tiefling
Wood Elf
Zariel Tiefling

Companions

As you embark on your journey in Baldur’s Gate 3, you won’t be alone. The game allows you to recruit companions who will lend their skills and support throughout your adventure. Each companion has their own unique stats and abilities that can be developed over time. Currently, the confirmed list of companions includes:

Shadowheart, the High Half-Elf Trickster
Astarion, the High-Elf Rogue
Gale, an ambitious Human Wizard
Lae’zel, the Githyanki Fighter
Wyll, a Human Warlock

Data mining has revealed the names of several other companions who will join your party, including Helia, Karlach, Minsc, Halsin, and Jaheira.

Romance

Love is also a feature in Baldur’s Gate 3, as players can form dynamic relationships with their companions. The game utilizes a reactive system that spans your entire journey, allowing you to pursue romantic connections. Based on your interactions and choices, companions will form opinions of you that play a pivotal role in determining whether they reciprocate your feelings. Currently, potential romance options include Lae’zel, Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, Wyll, and the NPC Minthara.

With a diverse range of classes, races, companions, and romance options, Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a rich and immersive experience for players to embark upon epic adventures in the world of Faerûn.