Why did Baldur's Gate 3 blow up? Larian lead writer says it's thanks to "a big gamble" with CRPG standards

It seems like the BG3 devs tried to make a good game and hoped it'd be popular vs other devs who try to make a profitable game and hope it's good.

Trusting your audience to appreciate the depth of work that isn't just flashy graphics, plus respecting players by not filling it with micro transactions.

People are desperate for games with some heart.

They had massive success with Divinity, the ground work already laid out. They bought rights to a big IP, kept to their Divinity formula and actually spent on marketing. Plus it happened to come at the right time when people needed the RPG itch scratched.

I purchased BG3 after I heard that the devs did not include micro transactions. I simply purchased it to support the devs, I had no intentions of playing it. But, I have a Steam Deck and decided to download it and just try it out. I am 30 hours into the game and I don’t have the physical or mental ability to put this game down. Please send help. Thank you Larian for taking video games back to their roots.

I’m observing a few-year-long pattern where players’ demands shift between better tech (visuals, new ways to play) and deeper narrative. We’re now at the peak of where people expect deeper games with latest tech, and Larian -maybe knowingly- hit that jackpot.

The game will be remembered as the best of the decade, how wonderful.

This game gives me the same vibes as Bioware games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, I was craving for something like this, without the microtransactions and gambling bullshit infesting most modern games.

I'm not fond of DnD mechanics but it's ok, it's worth it nonetheless, BG3 is truly spectacular.

It was all fun and games with CD project red until Cyberpunk came along. Let's see how Larian handles explosive growth.

I've just completed my first playthrough and it's going down as a top 3 favorite for me. Can still move up but Ocarina of Time and God of War are pretty dug in. Already theorycraftong what my evil playthrough will look like. Wrote down soooo many ideas from this game in my DM notebook as well.

That's a good question... I knew it was in early access but I kept just hearing negative shit about it and it fell off my radar until it just exploded again because of the finalized release. The things I see it praised for it tells me all y'all youngsters need to get on GOG and get the old classics and see just how much better those games are to most shit that comes out now. The old farts like me want those, but to look like games these days. BG3 did that. And it's amazing.

Ubisoft: we love it. Let's do it. But also let's figure out how to add microtransactions first.

Let’s be honest, they could have put out a large stinking turd with a “BG3” sticker on top and I would have bought it.

I’m so happy it turned out to be really good!

I think the point out that Larian knew this too, and used the guaranteed market to invest in content, not profit.

It's, pretty damn easy... It's an RPG where my actions actually feel like there's weight to them. There's just no room for turning my brain off, normally I'd consider that a bad thing... But here... it's just so damn engaging