The developers of Baldur's Gate 3 offered some additional insight into how the series' iconic setting was remade for the modern sequel in a new dev diary.
Released as part of the 2023 PC Gaming Showcase, the video details the efforts the developers went through in making sure the titular city of Baldur's Gate lived up to its prestige. There was extra pressure due to the fact that players hadn't seen the setting since the first game, and in how the series hasn't seen a proper new entry in several decades.
Fortunately, they were able to take full advantage of the improved technology available to them to achieve their goals. We hear from narrative design expert Lawrence Schick.
We can put lots more of the city on screen than we could in 1998. We can do something that is more immersive, richer, has more texture to it.
In addition to being able to show more of the city at any given moment, they've also been able to make it far more reactive to the player. The choices they make, and how they choose to approach any given scenario, will have visible effects on the city's residents and how they'll be treated as they spend their time in the metropolis.
Even if the player simply wants to spend their time immersed in the city without affecting it at all, they'll still be rewarded with a living and breathing environment, as explained by creative director Swen Vincke.
You have crowds that are walking around everywhere. You can talk to pretty much anybody, and they react to every single thing. It’s very alive in that sense.
Eager fans of the series will most certainly want to see the full video for themselves down below. You can also enjoy an animated trailer, which is rather cute.
Baldur's Gate 3 is currently slated for release on Aug. 31 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
