Larian Studios gave a statement on the possibility of Baldur’s Gate 3 coming to Xbox Game Pass.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Devs Won’t Be Putting the CRPG On Xbox Game Pass
Larian Studios has been in the news a lot lately with recent wins for Baldur’s Gate 3 as well as rumours of whether or not the game will eventually come to Xbox Game Pass. Ever since the studio’s hit CRPG title’s release, the game has had some bewildering stats including having been completed by 1.3 million players already.
The game has also gone on to win numerous awards (including our own Game of the Year 2023) making it not only successful in the CRPG space but one of the best of the games this year. With the piling accolades, it has raised the question of whether the game would be coming to a new platform, Xbox Game Pass.
The CRPG’s release on Xbox had a few hiccups but was finally unleashed on the platform this month. This led many to believe that the game could be joining Microsoft’s subscription service for Xbox and PC. However, in a recent interview with the CEO of Larian Swen Vincke with IGN, it doesn’t look to be the case.
When asked about whether Baldur’s Gate 3 would be coming to Game Pass, he stated that they had already decided beforehand the game wouldn’t be coming to Game Pass.
Oh, we always said from the get-go, it wasn’t going to be on Game Pass, it’s not going to be on Game Pass.
Sven Vincke – CEO of Larian – via IGN Interview (Dec 16 2023)
A Big Game at a Fair Price
Vincke went on to say that the studio developed a “big game” which is set at a “fair price” for what people pay for. He also went on to argue that the game also doesn’t contain any “microtransactions” as in you get what you pay for. The game does have hundreds of hours of content, with a great sense of replayability. The game has also received a new Honour Mode recently which adds further challenge through its light permadeath mode and new epilogue.
We made a big game, so I think there’s a fair price to be paid for that, and I think that that is okay. We don’t charge you any micro-transactions on top of it, so you get what you pay for. Upfront it’s a big meaty game. So I think that should be able to exist as it is. This is what allows us to continue making other games.
Sven Vincke – CEO of Larian – via IGN Interview (Dec 16 2023)
Considering all these factors, it does support Vincke’s reasoning for offering such an extensive game for a reasonable price. That’s also one of the reasons why BG3 has won a fair few awards from our Fexy Awards, including the Best Value category.
Despite these arguments, the topic of Xbox Game Pass availability for BG3 is a “sensitive question”. Being accessible on a major subscription service would open up the game to a wide number of players, but ultimately the pricing for the game is what makes the future games for Larian possible. Baldur’s Gate 3 is available through PS Plus but only as a free trial with a couple of hours of gameplay.
More to Look Forward to in 2024
Previously Larian also announced a Physical Deluxe Edition which you can pre-order for early 2024, which is not a limited edition so don’t panic if you can’t get it yet. The upcoming physical deluxe edition releasing in early 2024. This one comes with a lot of goodies to display proudly on your shelf. While less grander than the limited collector’s edition, it will still be worthy of any BG3 fan’s collection.
As for what will be up to next, well we may have had a small clue and something very different from Larian’s CRPG wheelhouse. Vincke is working on a fishing game. As to whether this will be a laidback fishing sim or maybe we’ll have to catch some horrific mind tadpoles is uncertain.
Interestingly while there are fishing rods in BG3 there aren’t any fishing activities, so whether this is a hint at a possible DLC is unknown. Vincke did hint in September that he’s “done” with the game and that some things are “already moving in that direction” of a new project. Whether this is the game he’s talking about we’ll have to wait and see.
I’m working on a fishing game
— Swen Vincke @where? (@LarAtLarian) December 14, 2023
Want some great builds to get you started in BG3? We’ve got just the thing! Check out our Best Gale Build Guide – Baldur’s Gate 3 and Best Wyll Build Guide – Baldur’s Gate 3.
For more news find it here in Lords of the Fallen ‘Season of Revelry’ Adds Festive Content, New Quests & More and Atomic Heart DLC Trapped in Limbo Ups the Weirdness in February 2024.
