Baldur’s Gate 3 Coming to Xbox with Possible Compromises

The highly anticipated game, Baldur’s Gate 3, will be coming to Xbox, although it may require “compromises” to make it happen, according to Larian, the game’s developer.

In an interview with IGN, Swen Vincke, the founder and creative director of Larian, was asked about the game’s release on PC in August and PS5 in September, but the lack of a date for Xbox Series X/S.

Vincke explained that the issue is related to a Microsoft policy that requires games to have the same gameplay features on both Xbox Series X and Series S.

While Series S games may have lower resolution, frame rate, or level of detail, this is acceptable according to Microsoft, given the difference in power between the two consoles. However, removing modes or other features is not allowed.

The specific problem with Baldur’s Gate 3 is the split-screen co-op mode, which runs well on Xbox Series X but struggles on Xbox Series S.

The team is hesitant to remove split-screen co-op completely, as it would make the Xbox Series X version less feature-rich compared to the PS5 version. However, Microsoft’s policy prevents them from removing it from the Series S version and keeping it in the Series X version.

Vincke highlighted the complexity of the co-op mode, stating that it offers a high level of freedom for players, allowing them to explore large and dense cities. Optimizing this experience for different platforms takes time.

While some compromises may need to be made for the Xbox version, Vincke did not provide further details. He did mention that Microsoft has been supportive and working to help resolve the situation.

In conclusion, the developers at Larian are working hard to overcome the constraints and complexities associated with bringing Baldur’s Gate 3 to Xbox. Despite the challenges, everyone involved is committed to making it happen.