The wait for Baldur's Gate 3 has been a long one, but a release date for the game has finally been announced. After a multiple-decade hiatus since Baldur's Gate 2 released in 2000, the production of Baldur's Gate 3 has fulfilled hopes of what many fans thought might just be a pipe dream. When the game arrives later this year, players will at long last be able to return to the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons in their most iconic video game form.
Baldur's Gate 3 was officially announced in 2019 and saw an early access release in October 2020. The early access version of the game acted as more of a demo than a complete early product, containing a significant portion of the story and map that still amounted to a fraction of the game's planned content. A long early access for Baldur's Gate 3 left many fans wondering when the game would see a final release, with shifting expectations eventually leading to an assumed 2023 release date. That frame was later narrowed to an August 2023 window, the most concrete knowledge available prior to the official Baldur's Gate 3 release date reveal.
Baldur's Gate 3 Release Date Is August 31, 2023
A trailer during the first PlayStation State of Play for 2023, viewable in full on the Larian Studios YouTube channel, confirmed a PS5 release for Baldur's Gate 3 and a date of August 31, 2023. Although this is the last day possible within the planned August window, fans may find it a relief to receive the title on time after the longer-than-expected wait. Larian Studios, the developer behind the game, has been able to incorporate feedback and hone the game through the early access period, a process that should contribute to hopes for a satisfying experience when the full release of Baldur's Gate 3 arrives.
The New Baldur's Gate 3 Trailer Has More To Offer
The State of Play trailer that revealed the Baldur's Gate 3 release date also showcased other aspects of the game, from cutscene story snippets to dungeon-crawling gameplay. The Dungeons & Dragons DNA that infuses the game is on full display, with character creation appearing in one clip and a critical success with a d20 registering in another. The trailer ends with an image of the luxurious Baldur's Gate 3 Collector's Edition, which features an assortment of items including a diorama of a villainous mind flayer and drow. This edition will be available for both PS5 and PC when the game releases for both platforms in August.
The Baldur’s Gate 3 release date of August 31 may still be months away, but the wait for the return of the iconic Dungeons & Dragons video game franchise has never been shorter than it is now. PC players who have been awaiting the title for years now have a date to look forward to, and PS5 owners who may not have been expecting the title on their system can now await the same. Early access titles don't always make it to completion, but Baldur's Gate 3 is finally poised to join the ranks of games that have successfully managed the task.
Source: Larian Studios/YouTube