Following the release of the highly anticipated Patch 8, Baldur's Gate 3 has experienced a significant increase in player numbers on Steam. This surge has positioned developer Larian Studios favorably as they shift their focus to their next major project.
Patch 8, a monumental update, was launched last week, introducing 12 new subclasses and a brand new photo mode to the game. This update has reignited interest among players, leading to a weekend peak of 169,267 concurrent players on Steam—a remarkable achievement for a single-player RPG in its second year. Although Sony and Microsoft do not disclose player counts for PlayStation and Xbox, the enthusiasm on Steam is undeniable.
Reflecting on Patch 8's impact, Larian's chief, Swen Vincke, expressed optimism about the game's future on Twitter. He credited not only the patch for the renewed player interest but also the thriving mod support, suggesting that Baldur's Gate 3 will continue to perform well for the foreseeable future. This success allows Larian to concentrate on their upcoming project, which Vincke described as having "big shoes to fill."
Vincke shared his satisfaction with the development effort that went into Patch 8, stating, "Feeling good today about where we are with BG3. Patch 8 got a lot of people playing again. It took a lot of development effort but I'm happy we did it." He emphasized the importance of the game's modding community and how it will sustain the game's longevity, freeing up resources for Larian to focus on their next endeavor.
Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur's Gate 3, concluding a highly successful period for Larian. The game launched to widespread critical acclaim and achieved significant commercial success in 2023, maintaining strong sales into 2024 and 2025.
Larian surprised the gaming community by announcing their departure from the Baldur's Gate series and Dungeons & Dragons to work on a new, mysterious project. They've maintained a media blackout to focus on this new venture, but have teased it at various points.
Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of Dungeons & Dragons, has hinted at continuing the Baldur's Gate series. During the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, expressed interest in the franchise's future. He mentioned that with Larian moving on, "a lot of people [are] very interested in Baldur's Gate." Ayoub indicated that Hasbro is developing plans and teased that announcements would be forthcoming. While he did not specify whether these plans involve a new game or another form of media, he did express a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, though he acknowledged that such a project would require time and careful consideration.
