Baldur’s Gate 3developer Larian Studios reportedly posted a nearly $260 million profit for 2023. This comes after posting an operating loss of $223,000 in 2022. The studio generated an overall revenue of $446 million in 2023, selling at least 15 million copies ofBaldur’s Gate 3, widely regarded as one of thebest games of 2023.
Larian has not revealed specific sales numbers, but the studio confirmed earlier this year that the game sold double that of their 2017 RPG,Divinity: Original Sin 2, which clocks in at over 7.5 million copies sold. Michael Douse, publishing director forBaldur’s Gate 3, stated the game boasted well over 10 million players in February of this year. Earlier this month,he also saidthat their average daily peak concurrent users are up 3% year to year, with daily active users up 20% over last year. The average number of Steam Deck users is up 61% year to year.
Financial figures for Larian’s 2023 come from a report by theIrish Independent.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Dev Explains Why Video Games Should Cost More
Should games cost more than they do currently? A Larian Studios exec thinks so.
Most importantly, this includesat least two sales in Vatican City.
Larian Studios is Looking to the Future
Based on the sustained success ofBaldur’s Gate 3, you’d assume that Larian wants to milk it for all its worth, right? Well, dear reader, you’d be wrong. In June, the developer saidthey are winding down support for the RPG once they release official modding tools. It’s not justBaldur’s Gate 3they’re moving on from, but the Dungeons & Dragons license as a whole. The company is looking to move onto a brand new, original project. The studio already said they are currently working on two games.
“Being given the chance to develop a game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe has been a dream come true for all of us,” the studio said in a blog post to fans earlier this year. “It’s still early days - we’ll tell you more about those later down the line. But know that even as our focus turns to these new games, the sensibilities that brought youBaldur’s Gate 3are alive and well here at the Larian castle. We’re fueled by the very same fire in our bellies, one that drives us to create immersive experiences shaped by your choices, and we can’t wait for you to join us on this next adventure.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 And Dragon Age Communities Have Very Different Atmospheres, And It’s Because Of The Writing
A contrast in how characters are written has shaped the community atmosphere of these two games.
Swen Vinke, CEO of Larian Studios, added the following:
I don’t know if we’re going to pull it off, but looking at our narrative, visual and gameplay plans, I think what we’re working on now will be our best work ever. I get excited like a kid watching the key imagery, want to show it to everyone now and grumble in frustration at having to wait until it’s actually all working. Yes, it’s hype but it’s hype because it really looks and feels good.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
23 years on from the release of the seminal RPG, Baldur’s Gate 2, the third game in the series has been developed by Larian Studios (of Divinity: Original Sin fame). Set over 120 years after the events of the last game, Baldur’s Gate 3 tasks you and your party of heroes to fight off a mind flayer invasion of Faerun, while seeking a way to remove the tadpole in your brain that’s slowly turning you into the enemy…
