Baldur’s Gate 3, the critically acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) computer role-playing game (CRPG) developed by Larian Studios, has once again secured its position at the pinnacle of the gaming industry at the 27th Annual DICE Awards.
Hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, Baldur’s Gate 3 claimed victory in five prominent categories, including the prestigious Game of the Year title. This recognition follows the game’s remarkable success at The Game Awards in December, where it scooped six awards, solidifying its reputation as one of the best RPGs ever.
We are delighted that Baldur's Gate 3 won 5 awards at the #DICEAwards, including:
Game of The Year
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design
Outstanding Achievement in Story
Role-Playing Game of the YearThank you all for your support ❤️ https://t.co/NjGZ1IELRi
— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) February 16, 2024
Aside from Game of the Year at the DICE Awards, BG3 also took home the Role-Playing Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Story, Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, and Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction titles.
Fortunately, the DICE Awards ceremony stood in stark contrast to the Game Awards, where winners, including Larian Studios, were cut short during acceptance speeches. Larian Studios’ Director of Publishing, Michael Douse, took the opportunity on stage to express gratitude to the developers behind Baldur’s Gate 3, highlighting their invaluable contributions to the game’s success.
Douse emphasized the industry’s occasional failure to recognize the worth of developers and reassured them of their significance, encouraging resilience in the face of challenges. He also underscored the current challenging times for game developers and acknowledged the industry’s unpredictable nature, while throwing much deserved shade at shareholders.
Larian Studios’ Head of Production David Walgrave further emphasized their commitment to community building and criticized microtransactions, highlighting the studio’s philosophy of prioritizing player satisfaction over short-term financial gains.
Baldur’s Gate 3‘s success has been celebrated not only for its critical acclaim but also for its ethical approach to game development. The game, free from microtransactions and predatory monetization schemes, serves as a model for creating high-quality, player-focused experiences.
Larian’s unique position as its majority shareholder, with a 30 percent ownership stake held by Tencent, allows the studio financial stability without compromising creative decisions. However, this partnership with Tencent and the success of BG3 also led to unfounded rumors that Tencent was interested in buying the Dungeons & Dragons IP from Wizards of the Coast.
The victory at the DICE Awards coincided with the recent release of Patch #6 on February 16. The new Patch introduced improvements such as enhanced visuals, new camp idle animations, and additional Legendary Actions in Honour Mode. And for BG3 fans who really like the kissing animations, Patch 6 now adds unique and randomized kisses, which range from a quick smack to more passionate (some would say adult) displays of affection.
The patch, however, comes with significant download sizes, requiring console users to allocate 21 GB and Steam users a substantial 150 GB of free storage space – that isn’t actually a gross total of 150 GB used in total, as the space is needed for temporary files. Alternatively, Steam users can opt to uninstall the old version and do a fresh install of the patched version, requiring less total storage space.
As Baldur’s Gate 3 celebrates six months since its initial release, anticipation for potential downloadable content (DLC) continues to grow. While CEO Swen Vincke confirmed the team’s desire to explore post-launch content that expands the game further with new level caps and other content, the focus has remained on support patches. Plus, the Larian Studios team is also looking forward to a well-deserved break.
With 2024 underway and WoTC celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Dungeons & Dragons TTRPG, fans may catch glimpses of DLC hints in the coming months, although details remain speculative at this point. In light of Baldur’s Gate 3’s ongoing success and the potential for future developments, the gaming community is left with a compelling question: What exciting adventures await in Faerûn?
