Larian Studios has drawn the curtains back in their final Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, setting the stage for the highly anticipated launch of Baldur’s Gate 3 on August 3. The live update show, broadcast from an atmospheric medieval abbey, was a thrilling dive into the heart of the upcoming game, shedding light on new character origins, gameplay mechanics, and even the potential for unconventional romances.
The Dark Urge
The show unveiled the Dark Urge, the final playable Origin character, as an outcome of a community-driven murder mystery called Blood in Baldur’s Gate. A formidable dragonborn by default, the Dark Urge character stands unique in its complete customizability, allowing players to shape their class, appearance, species, and gender. This character, with an innate inclination towards malevolence, embarks on the adventure having lost their memory due to an unfortunate incident involving a parasitic tadpole.
The Dark Urge, whose past is steeped in brutal and indiscriminate violence, embarks on a journey where players can either succumb to their darkest impulses or strive against them. Guided by the voice of Sceleritas Fel (Brian Bowles), the Dark Urge is constantly goaded towards their bloodstained past. However, forming relationships and romances within your party remain viable possibilities, regardless of your character’s malevolent leanings.
A new antagonist
The show also introduced the audience to Orin the Red (Maggie Robertson), the third and final central antagonist of Baldur’s Gate 3. Orin, a shapeshifting murderess, is driven by a single ambition: to drench the city of Baldur’s Gate in a sea of blood.
Character Creation
The character creator at the heart of Baldur’s Gate 3 offers extensive customizability, including new options like skin features, tattoo designs, heterochromia, and even body type and age sliders. It allows for deep player expression, enabling the creation of a vast array of characters, from stalwart heroes to malevolent villains and everything in between.
Unconventional Romances
Adding an unconventional twist to the game, Larian Studios also revealed the possibility of romantic engagements with a druid in a wildshaped form. Adam Smith, the lead writer, teased the unconventional romance options, stating, “tender, consensual romance with a man temporarily transformed into a grizzly bear.” Relationships in Baldur’s Gate 3 are dynamic, allowing for various paths of emotional intimacy and physical desire.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to release on August 3 on PC, with a PS5 release following on September 6. For an in-depth look at the latest developments in the game, the VOD of the final Panel From Hell: Release Showcase is available at youtube.com/larianstudios.
Further details on Baldur’s Gate 3 can be found on the official website, and updates from Larian Studios are available via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the official Discord Server.
