Baldur’s Gate III has taken the gaming world by storm, dominating the Steam charts with record-breaking numbers. On August 6, the game reached an impressive peak count of 814,666 concurrent players, making it the ninth highest-ranking PC game of all time, just below Hogwarts Legacy. What’s even more incredible is that this milestone was achieved despite the fact that the game has been in early access for nearly three years. Larian Studios, the developer behind Baldur’s Gate III, took advantage of this extended period to refine and perfect the game based on player feedback. The completed version of the game was released on August 3 and continues to gather momentum.
Baldur’s Gate III stands out for its captivating story, well-developed characters, and unique romance options that are determined by stats and dice rolls. The game’s Dungeons & Dragons role-playing mechanics offer a refreshing experience for players who are tired of the prevalence of microtransactions, in-game purchases, and the need for constant internet connectivity. In a generous gesture, players who supported the game’s development by purchasing the Early Access version received the Deluxe Edition’s cosmetics for free. This level of understanding and collaboration between players and developers has undoubtedly contributed to the game’s overwhelming success, surpassing even Larian Studios’ own expectations.
Last week, Larian CEO Swen Vincke expressed his hope that Baldur’s Gate III would reach 100,000 players. Little did he know that the game would far exceed that number. Following its launch, it quickly surpassed the 500,000-player mark, placing it just below popular multiplayer titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. As it reached over 800,000 concurrent players, Vincke’s main concern was ensuring that there were no significant bugs that would affect the game’s performance. In an interview, he mentioned, “God, I hope there’s no big bug left. I don’t want to have that anger over me, but it’s part of the risk of making these very large RPGs.” For reference, Larian Studios’ previous title, Divinity: Original Sin II, which also featured turn-based combat and was based on Dungeons & Dragons, had a peak player count of just over 93,000.
We don’t have specific sales figures for Baldur’s Gate III at the moment, but the decision to release the PC version earlier than planned, on August 3 instead of August 31, was undoubtedly a smart move. This allowed the game to avoid competing with other highly anticipated titles such as Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, EA’s Immortals of Aveum, and Starfield, which are all scheduled for release in September. The remarkable aspect of Baldur’s Gate III’s success is that, on paper, its turn-based RPG design is not commonly seen in mainstream gaming these days. Nevertheless, it has managed to attract both longtime fans and newcomers, despite the 20-year gap since the previous installment. In fact, the game’s extensive lore has sparked debates among developers, with some expressing concern that it may set an unattainable standard for future RPGs. However, this has also generated some backlash. At present, Baldur’s Gate III is a strong contender for Game of the Year, generating a similar level of hype as Elden Ring did last year.
Baldur’s Gate III is now available on PC, with the PS5 version set to release on September 6. Xbox players, however, may have to wait until 2024 for the game’s release on their platforms.
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Deepak Sen is a tech enthusiast who covers the latest technological innovations, from AI to consumer gadgets. His articles provide readers with a glimpse into the ever-evolving world of technology.
