Baldur's Gate 3's Steam Surge Post-Patch 8: Larian Eyes Next Big Project

The release of Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3 has significantly boosted player engagement on Steam, setting a strong foundation for developer Larian Studios to shift focus towards their next major project. Launched last week, Patch 8 introduced 12 new subclasses and a new photo mode, sparking renewed interest and drawing a surge of players eager to explore these additions.

Over the weekend, Baldur's Gate 3 reached a concurrent player peak of 169,267 on Steam, a remarkable achievement for a single-player focused RPG in its second year. While Sony and Microsoft keep PlayStation and Xbox player numbers under wraps, the Steam figures alone highlight the game's enduring popularity.

Reflecting on Patch 8's impact, Larian's chief, Swen Vincke, expressed optimism about the game's future. In a tweet, Vincke noted that the patch not only reignited player interest but also benefited from thriving mod support, which he believes will sustain the game's success for the foreseeable future. This success, according to Vincke, provides Larian the space to concentrate on their upcoming project. "We've got big shoes to fill," he remarked, underscoring the pressure and excitement surrounding their next endeavor.

Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur's Gate 3, concluding a period of significant acclaim and commercial success since its launch in 2023. The game has continued to perform well into 2024 and 2025, solidifying its status as a standout title in the RPG genre.

Larian Studios surprised the gaming community by announcing their departure from Baldur's Gate 3 and the Dungeons & Dragons universe to develop a new, undisclosed game. This decision was followed by a media blackout, signaling their full commitment to the new project.

Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, is exploring future plans for the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, indicated a strong interest in continuing the series following Larian's exit. "We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that," Ayoub shared, hinting at forthcoming announcements. While he did not specify whether this would involve a new Baldur's Gate game or a crossover akin to previous collaborations with Magic: The Gathering, Ayoub expressed a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, albeit acknowledging the time it would take to develop such a title.

"We're not in a hurry," Ayoub emphasized, outlining a measured approach to future developments. "We've got a lot of plans, a lot of different ways to go about it. We're starting to think about, okay, yeah, we're ready to start dipping toes a little bit and talking about a few things. And I think, in really short order, like I said, again, not to over-tease that point, we're going to have some other things to talk about around that."