Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3cleaned up during the awards season thanks to its rich world, dynamic gameplay, polished production, and charming characters. The replayability of the game is undeniable, but fans still wonder what’s next for the franchise. Larian Studios has expressed both interest in possible DLC and moving on to the “next big game”. Whatever comes next forBaldur’s Gate 3should include the keystone to the game’s success: the player’s companions.
While the world of Faerun and theDungeons and Dragonsmechanics of the game can stand on their own,Baldur’s Gate 3pulled on player’s heartstrings with the stories of the companion characters. Aside from the main quest to rid their brains of the tadpole wiggling within, players spend most of their gameplay unraveling, or even contributing to, the problems faced by newfound friends Lae’zel, Shadowheart,Astarion, Gale, Wyll, and Karlach. It would be hard to leave them behind, so perhaps it’d be wise if Larian included them somehow in whatever comes next for theBaldur’s Gatefranchise.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions are Still Ripe for Exploration
Baldur’s Gate 3took six years to develop. It’s safe to say that its sequel will take a couple of years to produce as well. In the meantime, Larian Studios has the opportunity to keep fans entertained and engrossed in the world of Faerun by producing spin-off titles. These spin-offs could take place before the events ofBaldur’s Gate 3, so as to not interfere with the timeline of the game, and explore the richbackstories ofBG3’s companion characters.
Writers often try to “show, not tell” their audiences what is happening. ThroughoutBaldur’s Gate 3, companions tell the player what they have been through. Spin-off games based on their backstories could definitively show what happened in their past: Karlach fighting in the fires of Avernus, Lae’zel’s life of loyalty to Vlaakith, and Wyll’s adventures as The Blade of Frontiers. It would be a chance for players who had previously prioritized creating their own characters to try playing as one of these Origin characters. These games could also give a glimpse of new locations, such asGale’s tower in Waterdeep, or other parts of Faerun ripe thatBG3doesn’t show.
This is to say nothing of Halsin, Minthara, Jaheira, and Minsc. Their stories have just as much potential for standalone, spin-off titles.Jaheirahas a special place in theBaldur’s Gatefranchise since her character has been around since the originalBaldur’s Gategame was released in 1998. Her story could be a good way to familiarize new players with the events of the older games.
BG3 DLC and Sequel Content Could Be Unique To Each Player
DLC that continues the story of the player’s companions would have to take into account the ultimate fate of each of those characters for each respective playthrough. Depending on the player’s choices, this can mean a happy ending or a much more complicated one. These companions can be killed at any point in the narrative, after all. To avoid having to account for each and every possibility,Baldur’s Gate 3DLCwould have to either leave the companion party behind entirely or happen in media res. This is to say that the DLC would take place somewhere within the main story, rather than after its conclusion, if it included the companion characters.
BG4 Could Take Inspiration From Mass Effect 2
Baldur’s GateandBaldur’s Gate 2were both developed by BioWare, the studio behind theMass EffectandDragon Agefranchises.
This is why it would be the easiest forLarian Studios to move on toBaldur’s Gate 4rather than getting entangled with theBaldur’s Gate 3timeline. The game stands on its own perfectly well, and arguably does not need to be augmented by DLC. That said, the hypotheticalBaldur’s Gate 4could still account for where all the companions end up. InMass Effect 2, players are invited to import their character from the previous game to reflect the choices that the character made in the original playthrough. The same could be done forBaldur’s Gate 4: if Shadowheart died in a player’s originalBG3save, then she might not appear in the next game; if Karlach leaves the camp because the player makes some devious choices, then she won’t be very friendly in the sequel.
However Larian Studios approaches the nextBaldur’s Gategame, it should include the characters that players have come to know and love. A sequel title without even a whisper of these influential names wouldn’t make sense considering that even outside the player’s actions, these characters have had lives of their own. Even if they return as mere momentaryNPCs, the companions ofBaldur’s Gate 3deserve some recognition in the future of the franchise.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
