Even with members of the team at Larian Studios expressing that the title isn’t meant to “raise the bar” and hold other RPG releases to unrealistic standards, it’s hard to argue againstBaldur’s Gate 3being one of the most important role-playing games in recent memory. Not only are the original two games in the series held aloft as two of the best CRPGs ever made, the team behindBaldur’s Gate 3has already proven itself capable through its work on the amazingDivinity: Original Sinseries. With the title’s 6-year long development cycle at its end and release right around the corner, it will be interesting to see how the reception ofBaldur’s Gate 3impacts BioWare’s next releases.
As the original steward of theBaldur’s GateIP and developer of the first two games in the series, BioWare is undoubtedly one of the most important Western RPG developers. In fact, it was the studio’s work onBaldur’s Gatethat earned it theStar Warslicense and the opportunity to create one of the best RPGs ever made –Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. BioWare has gone on to make incredible franchises of its own with bothMass EffectandDragon Age, and thepassing of theBaldur’s Gatetorch to Lariannow places the ball in BioWare’s court for each series' upcoming releases.
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Baldur’s Gate 3 Looks to Reinstate Old Genre Staples
For all the ways in which many Western RPGs move the genre forward,Larian’s approach toBaldur’s Gate 3is refreshing in how it looks to the past in terms of the game’s mechanics and storytelling. Ahead of the title’s release, there’s been a considerable amount of conversation regarding the game’s length and amount of cutscenes, reigniting a debate over these features that had been long-dormant as the genre became increasingly modernized. In its attempt to retain all the nuance and painstaking detail found in the bestDungeons and Dragonscampaigns,Baldur’s Gate 3appears to be providing players with one of the most pure role-playing experiences in years.
This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Larian’s previous work, as the studio already has another incredible franchise under its belt inDivinity: Original Sin.Character customization, build craft, importance of choice, and multiple outcomes to every situation are all important elements from theDivinitygames that Larian is now able to implement and improve upon undertheDungeons and Dragonslicenseand using the iconic pen and paper RPG’s genre-defining rule set.
How Baldur’s Gate 3 Could Influence Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and Mass Effect 4
Baldur’s Gate 3’s unique approach of being a “classic” style RPG built in a modern engine might influence BioWare’s next releases to embrace their roots instead of abandoning RPG tradition for modern convenience and accessibility. WhiletheDragon Agefranchisehas always held a mirror to BioWare’s past as a developer and its iconic work on theBaldur’s Gategames, theMass Effectseries is a different entity entirely. Each game in BioWare’s landmark space RPG gradually shifted more toward the “action” side of being an ARPG.
Dragon Age: Dreadwolfshould hopefully be in a place where BioWare will reveal more information about it soon, meaning that any impact ofBaldur’s Gate 3’s releaseand reception would be minimal, at best.Mass Effect 4, on the other hand, arguably has the weight of the franchise resting on its shoulders and is likely still in the early stages of development. With BioWare being one of the most talented Western RPG developers and having an incredible library of titles under its belt,Baldur’s Gate 3’s confidence as an RPG might causeMass Effect 4to follow suit.
Baldur’s Gate 3releases on August 3 for PC and September 6 for PS5. An Xbox Series X/S version is in development.
