Wizards of the Coast and Larian Studios invite players to celebrate the launch of Baldur’s Gate 3. And to mark the occasion, a new "Party Time" trailer is released highlighting fan favorite characters Minsc and Boo.
The gaming community has been abuzz with talk of the Baldur’s Gate 3 launch this August 3rd. Even with 3 years of Early Access, fans of Dungeons & Dragons and the Baldur’s Gate series of games cannot contain their anticipation. Not even a massive 150 GB installation and possible download delays diminished the excitement generated by BG3.
And now that the launch window has come (or counting down for other regions in the world), Larian Studios adds more fuel with a new trailer featuring two fan favorite characters from the Baldur’s Gate mythos.
The new Baldur’s Gate 3 launch trailer was included as part of Larian Studios' official press release. The video was then shared on the social media channels of Dungeons & Dragons and Larian Studios, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
It’s party time!
Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC. Enjoy the adventure!
Steam: https://t.co/y767Uh39Hh
GOG: https://t.co/FIlQPlfaYR pic.twitter.com/ZOJ7xGjZQh— Larian Studios re-rolled the D8 🥳 (@larianstudios) August 3, 2023
While the new trailer does features more cutscenes than gameplay clips, it does prominently feature two of the most beloved characters from the Baldur’s Gate games: the immensely strong but good-natured Ranger Minsc and his faithful miniature giant space hamster Boo!
Minsc and Boo have been a staple of the games since they first appeared in the Baldur’s Gate. Although simple-minded, Minsc is a relentless Rashemaar Ranger dedicated to fighting evil wherever he finds it. Along with him is Boo, whom Minsc often talks to directly. Although Minsc claims he is a miniature giant space hamster, no one can corroborate this except for one instance where Boo accidentally drank a Potion of Growth.
Minsc and Boo have since been incorporated into the Forgotten Realms campaign setting of Dungeons & Dragons. The duo’s history has been expanded into D&D adventure supplements, novels, comic books, and other video games. In the Magic: The Gathering expansion Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, Minsc and Boo have been represented with at least two cards.
With the new trailer featuring Minsc and Boo, it is pretty much confirmed that they will be recruitable in the game, along with another returning character from the first two Baldur’s Gate games, the druid Jaheira. Although the specifics on how to recruit them have not surfaced yet, there will certainly be a lot of players making the attempt within the 24 hours after the game’s launch.
Baldur’s Gate 3 will officially launch at these key locations during the following times between August 3 and 4:
- Los Angeles – 8am, August 3
- New York – 11am, August 3
- Quebec – 11am, August 3
- Rio De Janeiro – 12pm, August 3
- Dublin – 4pm, August 3
- Gent – 5pm, August 3
- Kuala Lumpur – 11PM, August 3
- Tokyo – 12am, August 4
- Sydney – 1am, August 4
- Auckland – 3am, August 4
What do you think of Minsc and Boo returning to the Baldur’s Gate games? Other than Minsc, Boo, and Jaheira, who else from the past Baldur’s Gate games would you like to see return? Perhaps the Drow cleric Viconia DeVir, the dwarf barbarian Korgan Bloodaxe, or the gnome illusionist Jan Jansen?
About Baldur’s Gate 3:
Gather your party and return to the Forgotten Realms in a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Mysterious abilities are awakening inside you, drawn from a mind flayer parasite planted in your brain. Resist, and turn darkness against itself. Or embrace corruption, and become ultimate evil.
Baldur’s Gate initially launches on Steam and GOG for the Windows PC, with a later release for the Sony Playstation 5 on September 6, 2023. No specific date has been announced for the macOS and Xbox Series X/S platforms, as of the time of this writing.
Boo is such a delight. I can't get over it.