Baldur’s Gate 3is officially coming toXboxlater this year. ThePS5release is mere weeks away after the PC version managed to sell millions of copies earlier this month.A few colleagues here at TheGamer even have the strength to wait for the console releaseafter all that buzz.
I didn’t, and instead chose toupgrade my PCso I didn’t have to suffer the short wait to jump into one of the best RPGs I’ve ever played. It’s really something, so I can’t blame Xbox fans for expressing disappointment about not only an unclear delay, but also the potential of the Xbox Series S version being omitted entirely if parity couldn’t be accomplished between all platform skews. Now, after a chat with Phil Spencer at Gamescom, the issue is behind us.
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Larian Studiosfounder Swen Vincke confirmed on Twitter yesterday that after meeting with Phil Spencer at the German gaming convention that Baldur’s Gate 3 will indeed be coming to both Xbox Series X and Series S later this year after all, albeit with a couple of caveats.
Save data will be compatible between both versions, but split-screen co-op will not be available on the Series S due to hardware constraints. It will also render at a lower resolution and deliver a lower level of performance, but this is to be expected from a console which always tops out at 1440p. Couch co-op however, appears to be the main issue here that prevented Larian from moving forward with the Xbox versions, largely due to a required platform parity asked of by Microsoft.
Phil Spencer seemingly hand-waived this requirement and made an exception for Larian Studios, and it’s hard to blame him when Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pretty big deal right now. He would like one of the biggest hits of the year on his platform even if it means bending a few self-set rules that other studios would normally have to abide by. At a cheaper price point and with weaker specs compared to its more powerful sibling, the Series S has always been a bit of an awkward situation for developers, especially those who want their games to be as good as they possibly can. Having to accommodate two consoles of notably different capabilities is often a detriment to that ambition. Baldur’s Gate 3 is no different, but now it’s on the way.
The omission of couch co-op is a bummer, but far from a dealbreaker for a sprawling RPG like this which is arguably played best on your lonesome. While it’s fun to explore its many stories and characters with a friend by your side, there’s a distinct joy in following your own journey without interruption, not to mention that all of the sex scenes are probably a tiny bit awkward with a bestie by your side. Unless you’re into that.
That being said, it’s a shame that the most affordable current-gen console on the market is constantly playing second fiddle to those above it, with developers curtailing their own plans merely to make things playable, let alone shine on the platform. Lack of co-op and lacklustre visuals I can live with, but will the future see more and more concessions made as Microsoft decides to cut developers slack in order to bolster its own library? That’s a conversation for another article, but right now, Baldur’s Gate 3 is more than worth the sacrifice, and I’m glad Larian was able to sort things out with Phil Spencer so players don’t have to suffer in silence.
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