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Baldur’s Gate 3 released not even a day ago and it should already be looked at as a stellar example of how to launch a game. With early access lasting over two years, developers Larian Studios had plenty of time to get the game to the standard that fans of the series deserve.
In light of the game’s rose-tinted reception, figures within the games industry have warned against comparing other RPGs to Baldur’s Gate 3. For example, games writer Xalavier Nelson Jr has warned players of the game not to expect the same level of care and dedication from other developers, which has itself become the centre of a conversation regarding expectations and deliverables of the companies publishing games.
Diablo 4’s senior designer, Chris Balser, reiterated support for Xalavier Nelson Jr’s comments, stating that too often do people “only look at the fruits of labour not the labour itself,” which is a fair comment. The general commentary from games developers encourages players not to expect all game studios to produce RPGs at the same level of depth and complexity as Baldur’s Gate 3 – entirely fair, and entirely realistic.
However, there are certain aspects of the game’s launch that should definitely be looked at inspirationally. Rid of DRM and microtransactions, Baldur’s Gate 3 stands out against a backdrop of games locked to online-only play retroactively fitted with seasons, cosmetics, and launch day DLCs. Already, the game has been lauded online for what can really be considered a total release, and the near 100+ hours of gameplay required to eke the most out of the game will keep players locked into the game for months.
Software such as Denuvo has been notorious to video gamer enthusiasts for years, with the possibility that the DRM negatively affects performance swimming around the rumour mills since it was first deployed. While of course, protecting the game against piracy is crucial, receptions to the presence of this software are usually targeted towards the performance impact rather than anything else.
Not only that, but demanding constant online access also cuts large portion of players from enjoying the game. Thankfully though, Baldur’s Gate 3 has launched without any sort of DRM, meaning that once it’s downloaded – you could enjoy it fully offline if you so wanted.
Even better, the game has launched without any microtransactions, which Larian have stated is due to the fact that they “believe in providing a complete and immersive gaming experience without the need for additional purchases”. With games now littered with microtransactions, pop culture cosmetics, loot boxes and other money-making devices, it’s refreshing to see a studio make a bold statement against them. That said, it’s also widely recognised that it’s not the developers themselves demanding these microtransaction based systems in place, but corporate domains and executives instead.
A complete storyline packed full of endless adventure, quest, and character exploration is without a doubt one of the reasons the game has been rewarded with so many positive reactions. However, it’s the care that the developers have taken to listen to what players really want outside of gameplay that makes the game a stellar example for others.
