Summary

  • Xbox players who were banned for recording mature content in Baldur's Gate 3 are now having their bans lifted, with progress being made in discussions with Microsoft.
  • The game's sexually explicit scenes and the default Xbox feature of uploading captured media have caused friction with Microsoft's strict policy against mature content.
  • Xbox players should appeal any flagged content and can use the nudity toggle and turn off automatic media uploads to avoid censorship and potential bans.

Larian Studios has confirmed that Baldur's Gate 3 players who were banned on Xbox after recording mature content are beginning to have their infractions overturned. A default Xbox feature combined with Baldur's Gate 3's penchant for sexually explicit scenes has recently been causing strife, but it seems a permanent resolution is fast approaching.

To say Baldur's Gate 3 has a reputation for lustful companions and a community more than willing to reciprocate would be an understatement. After all, it was thanks to a moonlit scene featuring a shirtless Astarion and a wild shape-transformed Halsin that Baldur's Gate 3 went viral shortly before its release. Unfortunately, Xbox players have not only had to wait a few months to experience such delights but are now receiving bans for capturing footage of them.

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Larian's director of publishing, Michael Douse, has been keeping fans updated regarding communication with Microsoft, now confirming that some bans are being lifted. Work is continuing on the matter, but it is not presently clear under which circumstances infractions will be overturned, with Douse stating that Microsoft is handling its "own policy discussions." The best course forward for Xbox players would be to appeal any flagged content still outstanding. For any who wish to continue recording explicit scenes in Baldur's Gate 3, there is a nudity toggle in the options menu, as well as the ability to turn off automatic media uploads so that there is no need to censor.

Microsoft has a strict policy against mature content and, by default, Xbox will upload any captured media to servers that abide by the aforementioned policy. As players progress through Baldur's Gate 3, deepening bonds with various companions and characters, the likelihood of sexual encounters dramatically increases. Thus, it is easy to see why some have unexpectedly fallen afoul of Microsoft's terms and conditions nearly a month after release.

Despite that month, and several patches, Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox is still plagued with vanishing save files. The firmware issue is under investigation but Larian has outlined a possible workaround for players in the meantime. Those on Xbox may want to avoid Honour Mode until a solution is found, a difficulty option which limits players to a single save file that is deleted upon party wipe. Honour Mode also introduces Legendary Actions, unique abilities for enemy bosses that can dramatically change how fights are approached. Furthermore, the action economy has been nerfed, such as Potion of Speed no longer offering an extra attack for the additional action point it provides.

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Baldur's Gate 3 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Baldur's Gate 3
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RPG
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
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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.
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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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
Genre(s)
RPG