Larian Studios has announced that a physical deluxe edition of Baldur's Gate 3 is now available for pre-order on their online store. This deluxe edition, priced at $80, is set to be shipped in the first quarter of 2024. For fans of physical copies, the PlayStation 5 version will come on two discs, while the Xbox version will be on three discs. The PC version, on the other hand, will include a DVD with a custom game installer and a CD key for the Steam version.
"We recognize the importance of physical media, and despite the increasing challenges in preserving games, we firmly believe it's worth exploring, even if it entails a substantial amount of discs," stated Michael Douse, Larian's publishing director, in a press release.
In addition to the game itself, the deluxe edition contains various tangible items, such as the three-CD soundtrack of Baldur's Gate 3, a cloth map, two patches, 32 stickers, and a poster showcasing one of the game's Mind Flayers. The game box is also designed in the style reminiscent of the boxes used for Baldur's Gate 1 and 2.
The deluxe edition of Baldur's Gate 3 is not considered a "collector's edition" and will be restocked, so fans need not worry about it selling out initially.
The new Baldur's Gate 3 deluxe edition comes with a variety of physical goodies. However, in addition to the physical items, the edition also includes numerous in-game bonuses. Purchasers of the physical deluxe edition will receive all the digital deluxe edition content currently available for the game. This includes a digital soundtrack, artbook, and character sheets. Moreover, players will also receive exclusive in-game items such as a dice skin, the Divinity item pack, Paintings from Rivellon, an Adventurer's pouch, and the Bard song pack.
Baldur's Gate 3 was initially released on PC in August and on PS5 in September, following several years of early access. The game has recently received eight nominations, including Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Game of the Year, at The Game Awards 2023. In an official statement, Larian has confirmed that the release date for the digital Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3 will be announced during the award show on December 7.
Initially, Baldur's Gate 3 did not launch on Xbox due to Larian's inability to optimize the game's split-screen co-op feature for Xbox Series S consoles. As a result, the feature was removed for the Series S version. However, the Xbox Series X version of Baldur's Gate 3 will fully support split-screen co-op, and there is a possibility that the feature will be added to the Series S version through a future update.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I'm thrilled about the announcement of the Baldur's Gate 3 Physical Deluxe Edition. As someone who grew up playing video games on physical media, I appreciate the resurgence of physical editions in recent years. There's just something special about holding a physical copy of a game in your hands, and the deluxe edition of Baldur's Gate 3 looks like it will be a real treat for fans.
The inclusion of three CDs for the soundtrack, a cloth map, two patches, 32 stickers, and a poster is a nice touch and adds to the overall value of the package. The fact that the game box is designed in a style reminiscent of the boxes used for Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 is also a nice nod to the series' history.
Overall, I think the Baldur's Gate 3 Physical Deluxe Edition is a great option for fans of the series and physical media collectors alike. It's a great way to show your support for the game and get some exclusive goodies in the process. I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on it when it releases in 2024.