Baldur’s Gate III’s release on Xbox platforms may be postponed until 2024, as indicated by Michael Douse, the Director of Publishing at Larian Studios. In a recent tweet, Douse mentioned certain issues related to the platform and clarified that the absence of a release date is not due to any exclusivity agreement. While the PC version of BG3 is set to launch on August 3, followed by a release on the PS5 on September 6, there hasn’t been any update regarding the Xbox Series S/X launch. Douse attributes the delay to technical limitations on the lower-end Xbox Series S consoles, specifically in regards to getting the split-screen co-op feature to function properly.
In a follow-up tweet, Douse explained, “The issue is a technical hurdle. We cannot remove the split-screen feature because we are obliged to launch with feature parity, and so continue to try and make it work.” This response addresses why Larian Studios cannot simply abandon the functionality on the Xbox Series S. Recently, Microsoft’s lower-end console has come under debate due to claims that it limits the potential of next-gen gaming with its 30fps capability. However, in the case of Baldur’s Gate 3, it appears that the console’s limitations are causing a delay in its release on the entire current-gen Xbox ecosystem, including both the Series S and Series X, until the team can overcome the challenge of implementing the split-screen co-op feature successfully.
While fans may grow impatient with the delayed release, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke emphasized in an interview that achieving feature parity between the two Xbox consoles is of utmost importance to the studio, regardless of Microsoft’s desires. Vincke acknowledged the team’s diligent efforts to include the split-screen feature, but emphasized the considerable time and optimization required due to the game’s vastness. Playing on split-screen mode with a co-op party divided and engaging in separate quests and combat activities simultaneously creates a significant strain on the game’s performance. Vincke explained, “That requires memory.” In terms of specifications, the Xbox Series X provides 16 GB of RAM, while the Series S has 10GB.
Furthermore, the team is committed to delivering a seamless drop-in and drop-out co-op experience on the Xbox Series S, a feat unprecedented for an RPG of this scale. Baldur’s Gate 3 has garnered attention for its lengthy cinematics, totaling over 174 hours, and its diverse romance options, including a romantic involvement with a brown bear. These features have contributed to its success as one of Steam’s best-selling games. However, it was recently revealed that players will not be able to preload the massive game, which weighs in at approximately 122GB on PC. Even players who have been participating in the early access version will need to download the entire game once again. Larian Studios addressed this in a Steam blog post, stating, “Please note that your Early Access save games will not be compatible at launch; however, so much has changed that it’s really worth it to start afresh.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 is scheduled to launch on August 3 for PC and on September 6 for the PS5. The release for Xbox Series S/X is currently slated for a later date.
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