For Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s soon heading to TV screens. However, not everyone is pleased with that, as it could distort the gaming experience.
It is still hard to put into words just how great the success of Baldur’s Gate 3 really was. After all, the game managed to bring the rather niche genre of CRPGs into the spotlight for many gamers and captivate entirely new players for this type of game. A success that also led to Baldur’s Gate 3 getting a TV adaptation, led by Craig Mazin, who has already adapted The Last of Us for HBO.
But one of the heads of Larian, the developers behind Baldur’s Gate 3, has serious concerns.
Before the Baldur’s Gate 3 series, Craig Mazin worked on The Last of Us:
What will the new series be about? The series for Baldur’s Gate 3 will not tell the story of the game but will start with the “after” – that is, after the end of the game, when the threats posed by Gortash, the great mind flayer brain, and the parasites have already been dealt with. We will see how the heroes of the game evolve and where their journey takes them after.
But this very aspect is something that not everyone likes, such as Michael Douse from Larian.
What does Douse criticize? Douse has been quite skeptical in his announcement on X, stating that he will have a “Crash Out”, meaning he wants to vent his thoughts thoroughly. In further posts, he explained to the community what this is about: A series that adapts Baldur’s Gate 3 and continues afterward could have a rather strange aftertaste.
This is because the series will have to canonize certain events – meaning to make them “official” – events that players may have made entirely different choices on. This would turn a particular playthrough into the “true playthrough” and could diminish the gaming experience for fans.
Moreover, he is concerned that the creators of the series may not succeed in capturing the tone of the game source material, which would not sufficiently honor the work of the developers on the game.
Later, he added: “Our stories have been born from strong camaraderie and determination. I watched [the team] as they wrote and continued to write, and through respect for the audience and the [source] material, they created the best stuff I’ve ever played. I hope that [the TV series] allows the same level of thoroughness.”
Larian’s CEO is more relaxed and excited about the series
However, Swen Vincke, the CEO of Larian, looks significantly more relaxed. He spoke with Craig Mazin and explained on X that Mazin “asked if he could come to the developer studio to talk with us.” From the conversation, Vincke concluded that Mazin is a big fan, which gives him hope. He further explained in another post:
We have worked incredibly hard to ensure that Baldur’s Gate 3 lives up to its legacy. The characters and stories are the result of many teams working together, and I believe I can speak for everyone when I say that they think it’s cool and hope that the next project will be embraced with the same amount of passion.
The endings of [Baldur’s Gate 3] were created to serve as narrative soil for new adventures. There are many directions this could take.
Are you looking forward to a series of Baldur’s Gate 3 from the creators of The Last of Us? Or do you believe that a game as big with so many decisions and different endings cannot be meaningfully continued in a series without alienating many fans?
If you’re feeling a certain emptiness after Baldur’s Gate 3 – this game could fill it.
