Baldur’s Gate 3 may never end up on Game Pass and that makes sense. Swen Vincke explains why that is only fair. MeinMMO tells you what’s behind it.
The award-winning game of 2023, Baldur’s Gate 3, will never be part of Xbox Game Pass, according to Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke. Xbox Game Pass gives gamers access to a variety of Xbox games for a monthly subscription price.
In an interview with IGN, Vincke emphasized that this decision was planned from the start and that they have no plans to deviate from it.
Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence
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Why Larian Studios is excluding Game Pass
What is the reasoning? Vincke explained that Larian Studios has always emphasized that Baldur’s Gate 3 would never end up on Game Pass. This clear stance is in line with Larian Studios’ philosophy of creating high-quality games that offer an immersive player experience.
Everyone who plays it notices how extensive the game is. There are so many decisions and possibilities in this game. Each run can develop in a completely different direction and you always discover surprises. MeinMMO editor-in-chief Leya Jankowski also collected over 200 hours in the first round of Baldur’s Gate 3.
Swen Vincke emphasized that it’s about making a game that has a beginning, a middle and an end.
To this he says:
We played a big game, so I think there’s a fair price to pay for that and I think that’s fine. […] We don’t require any additional microtransactions, so you get what you pay for. […] It’s a big, meaty game. So I think it should stay as it is.
Swen Vincke via IGN
Furthermore, he additionally explains in the interview with IGN that purchasing Baldur’s Gate 3 also allows them to continue developing other games. Swen Vincke made a post on X on December 14th confirming that he was indeed working on a fishing game.
Conclusion: Larian Studios’ stance on Game Pass suggests that not all developers and games necessarily rely on models like Game Pass to be successful. According to Steam Charts, Baldur’s Gate 3 is still among the top games, which is calculated based on current player numbers.
Players who want to immerse themselves in the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 are willing to pay full price, and this traditional model has proven successful for Larian Studios.
Larian Studios always goes one better. Now Larian surprised the players with an Advent calendar:
You are embarrassing the other game manufacturers – Baldur’s Gate 3 impresses with a special reward for the players