Baldur's Gate 3 Unveils Gripping Free Prequel with Intriguing Murder Mystery

Larian Studios has recently launched a prequel to Baldur's Gate 3, allowing fans to delve into a thrilling murder mystery before the highly anticipated release of the full game in August. Set 15 years prior to the events of Baldur's Gate 3, players are tasked with uncovering the identity of a cunning murderer, all while avoiding becoming the next victim. However, this game is far from straightforward.

The history of Baldur's Gate is a labyrinth of unexpected twists and turns. The original game, developed by BioWare and Black Isle Studios, was released in 1998. It followed the rules of a licensed version of Dungeons & Dragons and went on to spawn sequels such as Baldur's Gate 2: Shadow of Amn and Planescape: Torment. In 2003, Black Isle Studios began work on a third installment, but unfortunately, their publisher, Interplay Entertainment, encountered severe financial difficulties, leading to the closure of the development studio and the cancellation of the highly anticipated sequel. In 2008, Interplay lost the rights to Dungeons & Dragons, and Atari took over, resulting in the creation of two Neverwinter Nights games.

Wizards of the Coast, the original publisher of D&D, acquired TSR in 1997. In 2011, they regained the video game rights after a legal dispute with Atari, who still retained the rights to make video games based on the license. Larian Studios, among other contenders, had their sights set on the planned Baldur's Gate 3 sequel and were granted it by WotC due to the positive reception of Divinity: Original Sin 2. After approximately 6 years of development, the release of Baldur's Gate 3 is almost here. In the meantime, Larian is offering a murder mystery for fans to solve, which takes place 15 years before the events of Baldur's Gate 3. It's important to note that this sequel has no connection to the plot that Black Isle was creating for Baldur's Gate 3.

The game is accessible to anyone on its dedicated website, but there's a twist. The crime scene, featuring the unfortunate Baldur's Gate 3 bard class, presents two possible destinations for the investigation to continue. The next location will be determined solely by player votes, so the success of the investigation and the fate of the detective, whether they meet a terrible end at the hands of the killer or not, will ultimately depend on the fans themselves.

Fans who want to participate in the Baldur's Gate 3 mystery should visit the website soon. The investigation consists of 30 stages, as indicated by the markers on the map's bottom, and each new move is voted on within 24-hour windows. With only 4 hours remaining to cast a vote for the next location, time is running out. Baldur's Gate 3 will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S starting from August 31.