Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access Begins

Larian Studios announces the launch of Early Access to Baldur's Gate 3 for Windows and macOS on GOG. com, Steam, and Stadia. This is the first act of the D&D RPG sequel, offering about 25 hours of content, 46,000 lines of English dialogue, 600 NPCs, and 146 spells and actions. As previously announced, this includes the game's extensive character creation system which allows you to pick from 16 races and subraces spanning six different classes, each with their own subclasses. Here's the Early Access Launch Trailer along with more details:
Today’s release into early access marks the beginning of a long journey toward full launch. Working directly with the community, the team will continuously iterate and improve upon the game, adding new content along the way. RPGs this large, with so many permutations, thrive from feedback as new features and fixes are incrementally added to the game. Early access gives players a chance to participate in development and gives the team an opportunity to explore different game ideas with a live community.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is an expansive, cinematic, player-driven RPG based on 5e D&D. It features a rich character creation system where players can create an avatar based on 16 different D&D races and subraces, select their cantrips, skills and abilities, and enter a world where their actions truly define the story. With a parasite planted in their brains, players wake up aboard a burning Nautiloid ship racing across hell at the center of an epic fight between Mind Flayers and red dragons. And that’s just the very beginning of this journey. Players will encounter many challenges upon their return to the Forgotten Realms in a tale about fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival -- and the lure of absolute power.

Baldur’s Gate 3 expands on Larian’s award-winning narrative gameplay through the advent of cinematic storytelling and with dice rolls for key decisions throughout the game, in and out of combat. Dialogue options often have multiple responses, some of which may require a dice roll to succeed, defined by both luck as well as the attributes of the player character, or the circumstances of the situation.

The Forgotten Realms are a vast, detailed and diverse world, and there are secrets to be discovered all around. Verticality is a vital part of exploration. Players can sneak, dip, shove, climb, and jump as they journey from the depths of the Underdark to the glittering rooftops of the Upper City. How you survive, and the mark you leave on the world, is up to you.

Major Features:

  • Online multiplayer for up to four players allows adventurers to join forces in combat and split their party to follow their own quests and agendas. Concoct the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it!
  • Evolved, turn-based combat based on the D&D 5e ruleset. Team-based initiative, advantage and disadvantage, and roll modifiers join combat cameras, expanded environmental interactions, and a new fluidity in combat that rewards strategy and foresight.
  • Define the future of the Forgotten Realms through your choices and the roll of the dice. No matter who you play as or what you roll, the world and its inhabitants will react to your story.
  • Player-initiated turn-based mode allows players to pause the world around them at any time, even outside of combat, letting you set up a tactical advantage before combat begins, pull off a heist with pin-point precision, escape a fiendish trap and more. Split your party, prepare ambushes, sneak in the darkness -- and create your own luck!