Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian Studios has offered new insight into its decision not to expand its landmark RPG with big DLC packs. After failed attempts in the past, the studio finds expansions "boring" to create and lacks the "passion" for them.
The comments come from a GameSpot video interview with founder Swen Vicke, who is asked about the developer's reasoning behind not doing Baldur's Gate 3 DLC. Vicke responded by claiming the "honest answer" is that it's "boring" and Larian Studios has "no passion" for it.
Vicke seems to accept there's been a demand from the Baldur's Gate 3 player base for expansions, but the developer also needs to look after itself. He then explains you need "a happy developer for a happy player. What we're doing now makes developers way more happy". With the release of Patch 8, Larian Studios has now shifted all of its focus to the early production of a new game.
"We heard it's what we were supposed to do, right? You've got a huge game, a huge hit, and you've gotta make DLC this and DLC that and DLC there... and money's gonna pile up all high," Vicke added. He continues to say the Belgian team agreed to making expansions, but when it actually sat down and thought about it, there was agreement that would be the "wrong path".
Despite the lack of excitement Larian Studios has for DLC, it has treated Baldur's Gate 3 to eight substantial updates that most other developers would consider premium DLC anyway. Alongside bug fixing, the developer has patched in new endings and additional classes for the RPG. While the actual content of the campaign has remained the same, the way you can approach it has been drastically refreshed.
Those updates have been so impressive that our assistant editor Robert Ramsey believes they've helped Baldur's Gate 3 achieve the status of "all-time masterpiece". Do you understand Larian Studios' perspective here? Post your thoughts in the comments below.