Baldur's Gate 3 Unlikely to Exit Early Access This Year

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Despite entering Early Access in late 2020, Baldur's Gate III is unlikely to release in full until 2023, according to developer Larian Studios. Such a development update comes amid Larian's rollout of Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 7, a set of changes that most notably introduced the Dungeons & Dragons-inspired Barbarian class to the role-playing adventure. Thus far, the new character class has received a rather mixed response from Baldur's Gate faithful.

Set more than a century after the events of Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn, which launched in 2000, Baldur's Gate 3 borrows heavily from its predecessors. However, the game also marks quite the departure in many respects, particularly in terms of gameplay. The franchise's third entry boasts turn-based combat mechanics, giving the core of its action a flavor more akin to Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin endeavors. Fortunately, that hasn't stopped Baldur's Gate players from enjoying the Early Access phase, though details on when exactly this stage of production will conclude remains vague.

Related: Who is the Dream Lover in Baldur's Gate 3 (& How to Find Them)

It seems the long wait for the end of Baldur's Gate 3's Early Access period will persist into the next year. Baldur's Gate 3 Creative Director and Larian Studios Founder Sven Vincke told Eurogamer the team is in its "last year of development;" however, it seems "unlikely" the RPG will be ready for a full release by this year's end, Vincke added. A press release from Larian noted something similar, telling fans the studio expects Baldur's Gate 3 to exit Early Access no earlier than 2023. As of writing, a firm due date still remains under lock and key.

Sven Vincke's comments to Eurogamer bear a certain air of