Baldur’s Gate fans have been waiting for a new Baldur’s Gate game for two decades. Should you wait longer or dive into early access right now?
Baldur’s Gate 2 was released in September 2000. By the time Baldur’s Gate 3 leaves its early access phase, close to 23 years will have passed. Some of today’s gamers weren’t even born when Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2 turned into well beloved RPG classics.
That doesn’t mean only older gamers are excited for the newest title in the series. Early access forums and the Subreddit are full of players from various generations. Baldur’s Gate 3 has been in early access since 2020 and has been patched multiple times.
You may wonder whether it’s still worth getting into early access or whether you should wait a little longer. There are good reasons for both options. Let’s have a look at them.
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What Is Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access?
Baldur’s Gate early access lets you play the first act of the game. It’s a step past beta testing and a step before full release. You’ll still run into a bug here and there.
Larian Studios decided on a comparably long early access period to get feedback from players and make sure the game meets the expectations of fans. So make sure to report bugs when you encounter them!
What Do You Get with Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access?
Early access does not contain all the features that you’ll see in the full release. There are limits to character creation and you can only find a limited number companions during early access, including Astarion, who alone is incredibly entertaining.
Depending on how thorough you are, one playthrough of act 1 can take you anything from 20 hours and upwards. Players who love to turn over every stone and loot every possible container can spend up to 40 hours in act 1 alone.
A great bonus: everyone who buys early access will automatically get the digital deluxe edition of the game once it’s fully released.
Reasons to Play Baldur’s Gate 3 Early Access
- Get the digital deluxe edition without paying extra for it.
- Get a feel for the game before it is fully released.
- Try some stuff you probably won’t do in your full playthrough.
- Get to know your companions and decide which one you’d like to romance in the full release.
- Try all available classes and races to see which one you want to play.
When Is the Full Release of Baldur’s Gate 3?
The full release is on August 31st, 2023. Early access players and owners of the digital deluxe or collector’s edition get to play the full release two days before the doors open for everyone else.
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Reasons to Wait for the Full Release
- You don’t want to run into more bugs than necessary.
- You don’t want to replay act 1.
- You don’t want spoilers before your full playthrough.
- You want to enjoy one thorough playthrough without having to make a new character.
- You don’t like cliffhangers.
Versions of the Full Game
There will be three versions of the full release:
- The basic game.
- The deluxe edition includes some cool digital goodies like an adventurer’s pouch with helpful items and a playable instrument.
- The collector’s edition comes with all the digital goodies of the deluxe edition plus some awesome physical merchandise like a Mindflayer vs Drow battle diorama (See picture above) and a cloth map.
To Wait or Not to Wait?
There is still some time to go until the full version of Baldur’s Gate 3 arrives. It really depends on how much patience you have and how keen you are on starting your adventures.
It’s fun to play around with the character creator, and some decisions you make in early access make you think: “Oh no, I should not have done that”. Early access is a good time to experiment and maybe make some questionable decisions on purpose.
Even if you do not want to use early access, it’s a good idea to buy the game now if you want the extra goodies that come with the digital deluxe edition. If you buy the game later, you’ll have to pay extra for that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Platforms Is Baldur’s Gate 3 Available On?
So far, Baldur’s Gate 3 is going to be released for PC and PlayStation 5. It’s not a Sony exclusive game, and there are plans to bring this RPG to other platforms as well.
Can I Play the Full Release with My Early Access Character?
No, you need to create a new character once the game ends its early access phase. Early access save games won’t be compatible with the full game.
Do I Need to Play Older Baldur’s Gate Titles to Understand the Story?
No. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a stand-alone story. If you played older titles in the excellent series, you’ll see some familiar faces and places. You’ll understand the lore and will be familiar with various aspects of the world you’re thrown into. But it’s not necessary as Baldur’s Gate 3 does a good job of feeding information about the world to you.
Author Profile
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Name: Kim Anisi
Intro: Gaming has been my passion since childhood. The journey started when I received hand-me-down games on Atari and Amiga systems from my brother and I now mainly play games on PC. Among the vast genres in the gaming world that I have tried, my personal favourites are RPGs, MMORPGs, (Action) adventures, horror games, and settlement/city builders. Overcoming the challenges and helping others in games provide a great satisfaction to me.