Highlights
The triumph of Baldur's Gate 3 can be attributed to its meticulous adherence to the rules of Dungeons & Dragons 5e and its captivating narrative that dynamically responds to the decisions made by players. Consequently, the opportunity to augment the game with additional content through an expansion would be immensely welcomed.
The director's statement implies that no DLC is planned at the moment, however, considering a potential expansion that increases the level cap could be valuable. Nevertheless, this endeavor might be extremely challenging due to the numerous story possibilities, so fans should temper their expectations.
Baldur's Gate 3 has achieved tremendous success due to its excellent culmination of Dungeons & Dragons 5e's translation and a captivating narrative that dynamically responds to player decisions. While it is still awaiting some reviews, it is undeniably among the best games of 2023.
A significant factor contributing to its triumph is Baldur's Gate 3's approach to pre-orders, where they released the game's initial act in Early Access, providing purchasers with the opportunity to delve into hours of content before the official launch. Despite this arrangement being in place for a few years, the anticipation for the game continued to intensify. Now, with the full release available, fans are eagerly speculating about the possibility of an expansion.
Why Baldur's Gate 3 Should Get DLC
Baldur's Gate 3's director, Swen Vinke, has addressed the possibility of DLC for the game, stating that Larian Studios is not currently working on any future content but remains open to the idea. However, creating a potential expansion that increases the level cap to 20 would be a significant endeavor, and it may not be released for quite some time due to the potentially overpowering nature of late-game D&D abilities.
While some fans may be disappointed by this revelation, it is understandable considering the immense scale of Baldur's Gate 3. The game's development spanned several years to incorporate as many systems as possible, and it takes into account the majority of player choices. Being in Early Access for an extended period allowed for numerous adjustments based on player feedback. This level of attention to detail is ambitious for any studio, especially one that recently achieved significant success.
The Baldur's Gate 3 experience could be enhanced with a substantial expansion that addresses the balance of powerful D&D spells, such as the possibility of removing a spell like Wish. All three main games in the trilogy have been remarkable achievements for the RPG genre. The second game successfully incorporated potent spells while maintaining the overall experience, even reaching level 20 in the Throne of Bhaal expansion.
The primary challenge in creating an expansion for Baldur's Gate 3 may not be related to balance, but rather the direction of the new story. Assuming it takes place after the main storyline, as in previous game expansions, the developers would need to consider numerous variables. Considering the immense popularity of Baldur's Gate 3, it would be an impressive accomplishment to have many potential variables impact a hypothetical follow-up.
Instead of adopting its predecessor's approach of having a predefined series of events, Baldur's Gate 3 could choose a different route that preserves one of its main appeals. One possibility is to take place in an area largely unaffected by the main story, where the player's motivation can stem from the outcome of their previous adventure. Even if it takes a considerable amount of time to release, an expansion that expands upon the game's exceptional interpretation of D&D 5e would be highly appreciated by many fans.
Even if an expansion never materializes, Baldur's Gate 3 offers a lengthy and worthwhile experience that has garnered praise from both critics and players. With numerous hours of content to explore, taking into account the player's choices and their consequential narrative ripples, most of the content holds value and significance. Regardless of whether Larian Studios decides to build upon the solid foundation they have established with their latest success or embark on an entirely new endeavor, there is a substantial number of eager fans eagerly awaiting their next move.
Baldur's Gate 3 is out now for PC and will come out September 6 for PS5. A version for Xbox Series X/S is in development.