Baldur's Gate 3 Player Surge Post-Patch 8: Larian Shifts Focus to Next Big Project

Baldur's Gate 3 has experienced a remarkable resurgence in player numbers on Steam, thanks to the release of the highly anticipated Patch 8. This surge has positioned developer Larian Studios perfectly to shift their focus to their next major project.

Patch 8, which was released last week, introduced 12 new subclasses and a brand new photo mode to Baldur's Gate 3. The update not only brought back existing fans but also attracted new players eager to explore the fresh content. Over the weekend, Baldur’s Gate 3 reached a concurrent peak of 169,267 players on Steam, a significant achievement for a single-player RPG in its second year. While player numbers on PlayStation and Xbox are not publicly disclosed by Sony and Microsoft, the game's success on Steam is undeniable.

Reflecting on the impact of Patch 8, Larian's CEO Swen Vincke took to Twitter to express his optimism about the game's future. He noted that the patch has not only boosted player numbers but also highlighted the thriving mod support, which he believes will keep the game popular for the foreseeable future. This success, Vincke explained, allows Larian to concentrate on developing their next big game. "We’ve got big shoes to fill," he remarked, indicating the high expectations set by Baldur's Gate 3.

Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur's Gate 3, concluding a remarkable journey for Larian Studios. The game, which launched to critical acclaim and achieved significant commercial success in 2023, has maintained strong sales through 2024 and into 2025. Despite this success, Larian surprised the gaming community by announcing their departure from the Baldur’s Gate series and Dungeons & Dragons to work on an entirely new project. The studio teased this new endeavor before implementing a media blackout to focus on development.

Meanwhile, D&D owner Hasbro has expressed interest in continuing the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Hasbro's SVP of digital games, Dan Ayoub, revealed that with Larian moving on, "a lot of people [are] very interested in Baldur's Gate." While Ayoub did not confirm whether a new Baldur's Gate game is in the works, he hinted at upcoming announcements and expressed a desire for a future Baldur's Gate 4. He emphasized a measured approach, indicating that any new developments would be carefully planned and executed. "We're going to take a very measured approach... We've got a lot of plans, a lot of different ways to go about it," Ayoub stated, suggesting that fans might hear more about the series' future soon.