Baldur’s Gate 3 Didn’t Get Big DLC Because It’s ‘Boring’ to Make

Baldur’s Gate 3 creator Larian Studios has disclosed its reasoning for not wanting to augment its groundbreaking RPG with significant DLC packs. Following unsuccessful endeavors in the past, the studio now finds expansions “tedious” to produce and has no “enthusiasm” for them.

The remarks originate from a GameSpot video interview with founder Swen Vicke, who was questioned about the rationale behind not developing DLC for Baldur’s Gate 3. Vicke stated the “candid answer” is that creating expansions is “tedious” and Larian Studios has “no enthusiasm” for it.

Vicke acknowledges there is a demand from the Baldur’s Gate 3 community for expansions, but insists the developer must also prioritize its well-being. He elaborates that “a satisfied developer leads to a satisfied player. Our current approach makes developers much happier.” With the launch of Patch 8, Larian Studios has now redirected all its efforts towards the initial stages of a new game.

“We understood we were expected to do this, right? You’ve got a massive game, a huge success, and you’ve got to churn out DLC after DLC… with profits expected to rise,” Vicke added. He mentioned that the Belgian team initially consented to creating expansions, but upon deeper reflection, they collectively decided that it would be the “wrong direction”.

Even without a strong interest in DLC, Larian Studios has provided Baldur’s Gate 3 with eight substantial updates that other developers might consider as premium DLC. Alongside bug fixes, the team has introduced new endings and additional classes to the RPG experience. While the core storyline remains unchanged, the methods to engage with it have been significantly revitalized.

These updates have been so remarkable that our assistant editor Robert Ramsey believes they have elevated Baldur’s Gate 3 to the level of “all-time masterpiece”. Can you grasp Larian Studios’ viewpoint here? Share your thoughts in the comments below.