Xbox players have been eagerly waiting for the release date of one of the best games of the year for Microsoft's consoles. While the massive RPG, based on Dungeons & Dragons, was already released earlier this month, Xbox fans were left in the dark. But now, there's good news.
The wait is almost over
The highly immersive Baldur's Gate 3, developed by Larian Studios, will be coming to Xbox Series X|S sooner than expected. Previously, it was suggested that the game would only be released for Xbox Series X|S in 2024 due to technical difficulties with the split-screen multiplayer mode on the less powerful Xbox Series S. However, the developer's CEO, Swen Vincke, has now clarified that the game will launch on Xbox Series X|S by the end of 2023, thanks to a solution they have found.
Not quite the same
While Xbox fans will be excited to finally get their hands on Baldur's Gate 3, there is an important caveat. The Xbox Series X version will come with all the features and modes, but the Series S version will lack split-screen co-op multiplayer. This demanding feature, which allows up to four players to play simultaneously on the same screen, is too tricky to pull off on the less powerful Series S. Despite this, many still consider Baldur's Gate 3 to be the best RPG of 2023.
A precedent-setting release
The uneven release between Xbox Series X and Series S consoles sets an interesting precedent. Until now, games have launched with the same features on both consoles, with the only difference being performance and graphics quality. Baldur's Gate 3 has received special permission to drop split-screen co-op for the Series S to ensure its timely launch on the latest generation of Xbox devices.
Meanwhile, PlayStation 5 players have known the launch date of Baldur's Gate 3 for quite some time. The game will be coming to Sony's platform on September 6, 2023. PC players had the first taste of the game when it launched on Steam on August 3, 2023, after being an Early Access title for three years.
Written by Stoyan Ovcharov on behalf of GLHF.
