Baldur's Gate 3 Speedrunners Strive for Companion Romance Achievements
Baldur's Gate 3 players are skillfully rushing through companion romances, as Larian Studios goes the extra mile by hiring an intimacy coordinator for an unparalleled romantic experience in the game
Baldur's Gate 3 is an exceptionally engaging game, thanks to developer Larian Studios' focus on player freedom and choice. Players have the flexibility to tackle combat, puzzles, and character development in a variety of ways. Surprisingly, speedrunners have taken this to the next level by attempting to speedrun not only dungeons and boss fights, but also companion romances.
The game features well-written companions with rich character depth, each with their own companion quest that increases their affinity for the player upon completion. However, speedrunners are now dedicating serious time to quickly completing companion romances, even without finishing their companion quest first.
The current record holder, known as Mae, informed Wired that the speedrunning category started out as more of a joke than anything else.
"I didn't really feel any pressure to perform well or anything," Mae shared with the publication. "It was meant to be funny and to showcase that, 'Hey, by the way, you can complete it in like, eight minutes.'"
Mae uploaded a YouTube video in August, setting the world record for romancing Lae'zel in just 4 minutes and 12 seconds. A month later, Mae broke their own record, charming Lae'zel in only 1 minute and 58 seconds.
Different companions have varying difficulty levels for romance. For example, Gale, the party's wizard, had a very low approval threshold initially, making advances on the player early on. This was fixed in September. Lae'zel also required more than just high approval for her romance to trigger. As a result, Baldur's Gate 3 romance speedruns now have two categories: pre-patch #4 and post-patch #4.
"In romance narratives, this game subverts the tired trope of a man collecting a group of shallow women," Mae explained. "The companions in this game have a level of emotional depth that far surpasses anything we've seen in video games before."
Part of the reason for this emotional depth—and why some players rush through romances—may be attributed to an unconventional decision Larian made during the game's development: bringing in an intimacy coordinator. Intimacy coordinators are typically only found in film and television, serving as advocates for actors involved in intimate scenes, ensuring their comfort and well-being while also meeting the production staff's needs. Ultimately, they are there to ensure the actors' well-being during intimate scenes, as comfortable actors are more likely to deliver authentic, high-quality performances. The decision to hire an intimacy coordinator demonstrates Larian's commitment to creating realistic companions and prioritizing the health and happiness of the actors who portray them.
For players seeking a challenge in romancing difficult companions like Astarion, there are now speedrun guides available to skip the initial stages and reach the ultimate goal quickly. However, due to the depth of content in Baldur's Gate 3, it may be beneficial to proceed at a more leisurely pace. If you prefer a slower approach to romance in the game, consider exploring our Baldur's Gate 3 romance guides, including "The Dreamlover."
The Emporer
Halsin
Karlach
Minthara
Mizora
Shadowheart
Baldur's Gate 3 is available on PC and PlayStation 5. It's coming to Xbox Series X|S in December.
Editor's P/S
Baldur's Gate 3 is a game that offers players a lot of freedom and choice. This is especially true when it comes to romance. Players can choose to romance any of the game's companions, regardless of their gender or race. This is a great feature, as it allows players to create the character they want and experience the game in their own way.
The fact that players can speedrun companion romances is a testament to the game's replayability. Players can try to beat their own records or compete against others online. This adds an extra layer of challenge to the game and can keep players entertained for hours on end.
I think it's great that Larian Studios has taken the time to create such a detailed and immersive romance system. It's clear that they've put a lot of thought into it, and it shows in the final product. I'm excited to see what they do with romance in future games.
