Baldur's Gate 3 continues to captivate gamers with new revelations about its development. Swen Vincke, the head of Larian Studios, recently spoke at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) and unveiled some of the cut content from the game's early stages. Vincke discussed the difficult decisions made to ensure the timely release of Baldur's Gate 3 and shared details about characters, locations, and future plans.
During his talk, Vincke revealed that the game's early development considered including several characters as companions, including a notable villain. One of the characters, Astarion, was originally envisioned as a tiefling. Vincke also mentioned the discarded character Ketheric Thorm, who was planned to be a primary antagonist in Act 2 but could have been persuaded to join the player's cause.
In addition to the cut characters, Vincke shared details about the locations that didn't make it into the final version of the game. These included Githyanki queen Vlaakith's palace, the Gith Astral Plane, and a visit to Hell. These locations would have added even more depth and variety to the game's world.
Despite the wealth of cut content, Larian Studios announced that they will not be developing Baldur's Gate 4 or any DLC for Baldur's Gate 3. Instead, the studio is embarking on a new project outside of the Dungeons & Dragons universe. This news may disappoint some fans who were hoping for additional content or a sequel, but it also shows Larian Studios' commitment to exploring new ideas and creating fresh experiences.
The revelations about the cut content from Baldur's Gate 3 provide an intriguing glimpse into the game's development process. Players can now imagine what could have been while appreciating the final version of the game that has received critical acclaim and a Game of the Year nomination. As Larian Studios moves on to their next project, fans eagerly await what they have in store for the future.
In a recent announcement, Ubisoft Toronto has officially joined the development team working on the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The remake was originally announced to launch in 2021 but faced challenges and underwent a significant overhaul. Ubisoft Toronto's involvement is expected to speed up development progress. The game was initially being developed by Ubisoft Mumbai and Ubisoft Pune before being given to Ubisoft Montréal. In May 2023, Ubisoft confirmed that the game had returned to the 'conception phase' for a major overhaul. The involvement of both Ubisoft Montréal and Ubisoft Toronto is promising for the remake. Updates on the progress of the game are expected later in 2024 or 2025.
With the success of the critically acclaimed Divinity series and the latest project, Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios has solidified its reputation as a leading developer in the RPG genre. As fans eagerly await the release of the two new RPG games, the expansion into Poland signals Larian Studios' dedication to delivering innovative and immersive gaming experiences.
Camouflaj studio director Ryan Peyton discusses the upcoming VR game Batman: Arkham Shadow, which aims to reinvent the Arkhamverse. The game will be a prequel set between Arkham Origins and Arkham Asylum, featuring a young and reckless Batman. Peyton explains how the team at Camouflaj is taking influence from Rocksteady's Arkham games and studying the look and feel of classic Arkham elements. The game will include fully explorable dungeons, deep combat mechanics, investigation scenes, gadgets, boss battles, collectibles, puzzles, and cinematics. The voice actor Roger Craig Smith will reprise his role as Batman, and the game will make use of the improved hardware of the Meta Quest 3, including real-time shadows. Batman: Arkham Shadow is set to launch exclusively on Meta Quest 3 in Fall 2024.