Those who are thinking about playing Baldur's Gate 3 anytime soon will need to spend money. As confirmed by Swen Vincke himself, the "Best Game of the Year" is not going to be on Xbox Game Pass.
Not for Free
Swen Vincke, Larian Studios' founder and CEO, said in a recent interview that Baldur's Gate 3 will not be on Xbox Game Pass, but there is a pretty good reason for it.
He openly admits that the game is always going to be a paid one right from the beginning. "We made a big game, so I think there's a fair price to be paid for that, and I think that that is okay," said Vincke.
True enough, the game is actually pretty massive. Completionists will have to spend countless hours just to get everything the game has to offer. Baldur's Gate 3 has been praised by many due to its branching storylines where player choice always has a bearing on what type of ending people are going to get. This is likely one of the reasons why it received the accolade of Best Game of the Year in the recently concluded Game Awards 2023.
Earlier this month, Larian dropped a pretty huge patch for the game that included an epilogue so players can have "proper closure," an "Honour Mode" for those who want a more challenging experience, and a "Custom Mode" that lets people tinker with the game to their liking.
Given the insane value that Vincke and his team have provided fans and newcomers alike, it is reasonable that Baldur's Gate 3 will not be free-to-play via Xbox Game Pass, at least, in the near future.
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Spent the Time Cooking
Players who have finished the game will understand the passion and dedication that the folks at Larian have put into it. In fact, Vincke was candid about how many hours it took the writers to finish the plot.
"When we talked about the ending, we had an entire team that spent more than a year just working on the ending," said Vincke. He continued, "So they did a lot of work, that's a lot of endings, but yes, there's a moment in there that is a bifurcation."
Baldur's Gate 3's epilogue is a fitting farewell to what is arguably one of the best games in the decade.
Deluxe Edition
Players who want to support the game or those who have not purchased it yet can consider getting the Deluxe Edition. According to Larian Studios, the Deluxe Edition is slated to release in the first quarter of 2024.
It is far more expensive than the standard edition at £79.99 (roughly $100). But, it will come with a treasure trove of goodies, including the original soundtrack, a cloth world map, two fabric patches, a whopping 32 stickers, and a beautiful art poster as well.
If the company is going to release the Deluxe Edition in Q1 2024, it is likely going to be in March since February is jam-packed with major game releases.
Baldur's Gate 3 is currently available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
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