Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Surge Post-Patch 8: Larian Eyes Next Big Project

Baldur’s Gate 3 has experienced a remarkable resurgence in player numbers on Steam following the launch of the much-anticipated Patch 8. This significant update has positioned developer Larian Studios well as they shift their focus to their next major project.

Patch 8, released last week, introduced 12 new subclasses and a brand new photo mode to Baldur’s Gate 3. The excitement around these additions led to a surge in player numbers, with the game reaching a concurrent peak of 169,267 players on Steam over the weekend—a remarkable achievement for a single-player focused RPG in its second year. Note that Sony and Microsoft do not disclose PlayStation or Xbox player counts.

Reflecting on Patch 8's impact, Larian's chief, Swen Vincke, expressed optimism about the game's future. In a tweet, Vincke noted that the thriving mod support, combined with the player boost from Patch 8, suggests that Baldur’s Gate 3 will continue to perform well for the foreseeable future. This success allows Larian to concentrate on their next big project. "We’ve got big shoes to fill," Vincke remarked, indicating the high expectations for their upcoming game.

Vincke further shared his satisfaction with the state of Baldur’s Gate 3 post-Patch 8, emphasizing the substantial development effort that went into it. "Feeling good today about where we are with BG3," he stated, underscoring the positive reception and renewed interest the patch has garnered.

Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, closing a chapter on what has been a critically acclaimed and commercially successful journey since its 2023 launch. The game has continued to sell well into 2024 and 2025, demonstrating its enduring appeal.

In a surprising move, Larian announced their departure from the Baldur’s Gate series and Dungeons & Dragons to focus on a new, undisclosed project. This decision followed a period of teasing and culminated in a media blackout to concentrate fully on their mystery game.

Meanwhile, D&D's owner, Hasbro, has expressed intentions to continue the Baldur’s Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, Hasbro's SVP of digital games, hinted at ongoing plans and interest from multiple parties in the franchise. "We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that," Ayoub said, promising forthcoming announcements. While he did not confirm whether these plans involve a new Baldur's Gate game or a crossover like the previous collaboration with Magic: The Gathering, Ayoub expressed a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, acknowledging that such a project would require time and careful consideration.

"It's somewhat of an unenviable position," Ayoub admitted, emphasizing a measured approach to future developments. "We've got a lot of plans, a lot of different ways to go about it," he added, suggesting that Hasbro is ready to explore various possibilities and will soon share more details about their strategy for the beloved series.