Based on a recent series of tweets from Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke, it doesn't sound like Baldur's Gate 3 will be coming to any subscription service like PS Plus or Xbox Game Pass anytime soon. Vincke's discussion comes shortly after discourse surrounding a Ubisoft CEO saying fans should get used to not owning their games was shared in many online circles; in short, it seems Vincke wholeheartedly disagrees.
The Baldur's Gate 3 dev said, in a first tweet, that content will always be king in the future of games. However, subscriptions becoming the dominant model would make good content harder to produce and find, he claims. It sounds a lot like what happened with Netflix and other streaming services that require subscriptions, as the quality of all content is frequently questioned nowadays. He acknowledged that idealism can lead to disaster, but that it is needed to make a genuine project. The other end of the spectrum, pure subscription models, "always end up being cost/benefit analysis exercises intended to maximize profit."
Continuing, he also acknowledged that nothing is wrong with that exercise, but said that subscriptions becoming the dominant model would harm discoverability. This is already a major challenge given the small, select handful of digital distribution platforms developers have access to, and Vincke says those switching to subscriptions would become "savage." Ultimately, he said that "in such a world by definition the preference of the subscription service will determine what games get made." Of course, he also acknowledges that subscription services provide opportunities for many developers to make their games and obviously he doesn't have an issue with that, but he wants to make sure that the standard ecosystem of games, those outside the subscription services, "doesn't die because it's valuable."
As a result, no Larian Studios game will be available on a subscription service, according to Vincke. He had previously indicated that Baldur's Gate 3 wouldn't be coming to Xbox Game Pass, but the totality of his words suggests that possibilities like PS Plus are out the window too. Though, it is worth noting that a trial of Baldur's Gate 3 is available on PS Plus Premium, but that's only enough to get through the tutorial basically (and on the assumption that someone doesn't spend an hour making a character).
While this will no doubt disappoint some subscribers who want BG3 on their service, it's an understandable position and one with a silver lining. It's not an uncommon refrain that someone will wait for a game to come to Xbox Game Pass or the like to play it, but since Larian has practically shot that position down, fans know they should just pick it up when they can and if they so wish.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
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 EXPERIENCE
Choose 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 EPIC
Forged 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.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
