Baldur’s Gate III has taken the gaming world by storm, claiming the top spot on the Steam charts with a staggering 800,000 concurrent players on August 6. The game reached a peak count of 814,666, placing it as the ninth-highest ranking PC game of all time, just below Hogwarts Legacy. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that Baldur’s Gate III has been in early access for almost three years, allowing developer Larian Studios to refine and perfect the game based on player feedback. The full version of the game was released on August 3 for PC and continues to show no signs of slowing down.
One of the reasons Baldur’s Gate III has received such a warm reception is its captivating story, compelling characters, and unique romance options, all of which are determined by in-game stats and dice rolls. The game offers a refreshing break from the overwhelming presence of microtransactions, in-game purchases, and constant internet connectivity required by many modern games. Larian Studios even rewarded those who supported the development by purchasing the Early Access version with free cosmetics in the Deluxe Edition, a generous gesture that highlights the strong bond between the players and the developers. This level of understanding between players and developers is undoubtedly contributing to the game’s success, which has exceeded Larian Studios’ expectations.
Last week, Larian CEO Swen Vincke expressed his anticipation for Baldur’s Gate III to reach 100,000 players after its release. However, the game surpassed all expectations by breaking the 500,000-player mark on launch day, positioning itself right below multiplayer giants Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. As the game crossed the remarkable milestone of 800,000 concurrent players, Vincke’s main concern was ensuring that no major bugs remained. In an interview, he admitted, “God, I hope there’s no big bug left. I don’t want to have that anger over me, but it’s part of the risk of making these very large RPGs.” Larian Studios’ previous title, Divinity: Original Sin II, also based on Dungeons & Dragons and featuring turn-based combat, peaked at just over 93,000 players.
The exact sales figures for Baldur’s Gate III remain unclear, but the decision to release it earlier than originally planned, on August 3 instead of August 31, undoubtedly worked in their favor. This allowed the game to avoid competing with other highly anticipated releases such as Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, EA’s Immortals of Aveum, and Starfield, which are scheduled for release in September. What makes this achievement truly remarkable is that Baldur’s Gate III’s turn-based RPG design is not commonly seen in mainstream gaming nowadays. However, both fans and newcomers have gravitated towards it, despite the 20-year gap since the previous installment. The game’s vast and immersive lore has even prompted some developers to raise concerns about it setting a new standard for RPGs, sparking a mix of excitement and backlash within the gaming community. It is undeniably a strong candidate for Game of the Year, generating hype levels similar to those of Elden Ring last year.
Baldur’s Gate III is currently available for PC, with the PS5 version set to release on September 6. However, Xbox platform users may have to wait until 2024 for the game’s release.
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Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
