If you own both a PS5 and an Xbox Series X, you'll now have quite the decision to make on 6th September 2023: do you play Baldur's Gate 3 or Starfield first? Larian Studios has announced that while its huge RPG is moving its release date up a month on PC, the PS5 version is being pushed back one week — to the same day Starfield launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC. That's two 100+ hour RPGs out on the same day.
You can somewhat circumvent this decision by taking advantage of the 72 hours of early access within the Collector's Edition of Baldur's Gate 3, but you're hardly going to make much of a dent in this massive RPG in three days. Either way, if you pick the game from Larian Studios, you've got 60fps support to look forward to. The team says on the PlayStation Blog this one-week delay allows them to achieve this ambition.
Elsewhere, the developer puts up some impressive statistics. Larian Studios claims it has over 170 hours of cinematics and "three times more cinematic dialogue than all three The Lord of the Rings novels combined". When crafting your character, you'll have 12 classes to choose from, and then a further 46 subclasses to really make them your own. There are many more mindblowing details on the PlayStation Blog — some of which are tough to comprehend — so we recommend giving the complete article a read. Another: "It has 174 hours of cinematics, making it more than twice the length of every season of Game of Thrones combined."
Next week on 7th July 2023, Larian Studios will host a Panel from Hell: Release Showcase where more details will be revealed, including the seventh and final Origin character. Are you going to tune in? Let us know in the comments below.
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 47
Delays, glitches, price and overall review score are not important as long as it's a stable 60fps experience.
September the 6th... Baldur's Gate, I choose you!
Do I have to have played any of the first two to understand number 3?
Beyond two souls had more dialogue than Lotr... was still nonsense
Sadly its digital only
I wonder if it's still coming to Stadia
I'm reading this and thinking... this is starting to sound like a game I'd love (and like the better of the RPG's of the two releasing the same day, weirdly). I have zero idea about this series though from story to gameplay mechanics.
Please do enlighten us, oh ye who know these things 🙏
@IAmAshCohen17 i have the understanding that is one of those situations where you don't need but if you have you are going to see cool references.
Well at least there will be one generation defining RPG that comes out on Sept 6th that runs at 60fps.
An Xbox (and PC) exclusive vs. a quasi PlayStation (and PC) exclusive, thanks to Microsoft’s console parity clause.
To think, the most powerful console’s games are tethered to a weaker console’s performance issues.
@Magnus_Selene really? that's a damn shame
@Ravix The first 2 BG games use what was called the Infinity engine, the games were isometric CPRGS that played in real time though you could pause them to give commands to your party.
This one is turn based, it's basically more Divinity Original Sin 3 than Baldur's Gate 3. The story will be largely unrelated to the first 2 games (since that story was over and this one is set more than 100 years after the second game). You may see some know faces (2 of your old party members will be in the game due to magic or being long lived races) and familiar places but that's about it.
The old games may be hard to play now mainly due to how they look, but I absolutely love them. If you're curious, try to play Divinity Original Sin 2 and you'll get the gist of how this game will play.
Armored Core VI - August
Starfield/CYGNI: All Guns Blazing - September
Mirage/SpiderMan 2 - October
It really does not matter. It gets muscled out of my list.
Circle back to this one later on
@IAmAshCohen17 @Ravix I copied a link to the shortest recap of the first 2 games to give you an idea of history.
https://youtu.be/N-teY77zCws
There are however many recaps, some by wolfheartfps are the best. He is my goto for all things Baldurs Gate 3
This is my most anticipated game this year. Sad to see it delayed, but a week is no problem. I do have it pre-ordered and I am looking forward to the 72 hour early access. Larian studios are tops on my list for making great isometric rpgs. They are currently running a murder mystery taking place in Baldurs Gate. You can help solve the case and pick via vote which direction solving the case will go next. I'm eating it all up.
As I don’t own an Xbox, it’s BG numero III for me. As it’s released the day after my birthday, that’s another push.
However I’m much more likely to not buy until I’m assured there’s no serious bugs waiting, such is the risk these days.
@Athrum cheers. Are they still doing the top down camera style? Or will it be more like Dragon Age where it's more of a third person?
I'm guaranteed to get into one of the big top down camera style RPG's at some point, as I branch out in to all kinds of different games I'd never have played before.
I just crave more games with swords, magic & a medieval feel to be honest, and it's inevitable I'll have to try something from the diablo, divinity, baldurs gate range at some point 😁
Armored Core VI for me, thanks!
@Ravix Still a bit isometric but highly detailed and you can zoom on the characters. Also all interactions are animated, its not just walls of text anymore. Check a couple of trailers, you may like it.
Really excited for this one, day one for sure.
I finally accomplished a childhood ambition to finish Baldurs Gate 1 a couple of years ago 🥳 So cool that these isometric RPGs are all getting console releases these days.
@Athrum yeah, it's sounding appealing 😁 I was almost sold at the million hours of cutscenes tbh haha. I'll check out some footage when I can
So Baldur's Gate is on beta stage for ages and PC gamers seems to like it so i would prefer to play that first, but also got a Series S and Starfield is "free" on GP.. So guess i will play Starfield first
I have starfield preorder but seeing that Baldur's Gate 3 can render eyebrows properly I’m going to switch my preorder to baldurs gate, that and starfield is looking like the unsalted crackers of space adventures
Gonna keep my eye on this..
That's a really good change for Sony's part. It won't be like all internet talks about Starfield except PS players; they can enjoy another huge RPG in the mean time.
Baldur's Gate for me - will probably pick it up in Oct/Nov once the inevitable game breaking/save corrupting bugs have been squashed
This is a genius delay really. Move up the PC version out of the Starfield release, but then delay the PS5 release to coincide with the major Xbox RPG (Starfield) release exclusive to that console.
Totally makes sense, especially for those that solely play on PS and the fact that Baldurs gate hasn't even been confirmed for release on the Xbox consoles. As PS only folks can still enjoy a major RPG release during the starfield hype period.
Dammit, I booked several days off for the original release! I’ll just have to get the Digital Deluxe Edition to make use of the 72 hours early access.
Removed - inappropriate; user is banned
Also, as much as I love it, Lord of the Rings is 90% describing the shape of fields and trees. You can go chapters without dialogue 😂
That sounds impressive. It will likely be better than Starfield too.
Well, I won't be playing Starfield and I've played other Baldurs Gate games, so, easy decision!
Darn. I'll be somewhere in the Starfield that day. And probably for the rest of the year.
174 hours of cinematics! That puts even metal gear solid to shame doesn't it? Or literally any game ever, well aside from possibly final fantasy 14.
BG3 is gonna blow starfield and every other RPG out of the water.....if you haven't played DOS 1 & 2 yet, have a go at those - will give you a taste of what BG3 will be like - only with the added lore from forgotten realms....can not wait!!!
@YonkoBuggyTheClown those are really big expectations, hopefully Bethesda matches those expectations.
What is an xbox? This is a PS site .. (jk jk)
Yeah I think I'm going with this one, I love turn based rpgs and have seen some gameplay about this game before the PS5 announcement so here we go.
@GymratAmarillo I'm actually looking forward to their trademark jank. I like to point and laugh at silly things (and people lol). I'm pretty sure it will meet that lofty expectation, and if it doesn't, I'm due of a steering wheel for Forza. Certainly, the game can meet my expectation for a month. Here's a question. How freaking big is this game going to be? do I have to buy another hard drive? Yeesh. 175 hours of 4K CG cinematics? How will that work on a feeble console?
Let's see aboutcthe dialogue volume when it releases. Can it break the Witcher 3's record?
Divinity Original Sin III next!!
Stanfield seems to be more like fallout 76 than Skyrim. So, Baldur could be a better option if delivers
After playing FF16, it will good to play an actual real RPG with interactive party members, humour, memorable quests and worthwhile loot.
Day1! …+7
@ApostateMage because FF and Baldur’s Gate have always been the same kind of game…c’mon, let’s enjoy each for what they do best.
@Feena Yeah, sorry. I do and I will.
Thank god. Starfield would’ve won out but I’ve been a fan of Larian’s work since Divinity 2 Ego Draconis. I didn’t wanna have to miss the launch and feel rushed with either game.
@IAmAshCohen17 no. Certainly a knowledge of the dnd campaign setting can be handy but it'd all explained in the game from the mindflayer ship all the way through the first act.... it teaches you some things and your creativeness will kick in.
@Bentleyma
I did the same thing!!!!
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