Highlights
- Larian Studios surprises fans with a clever, secret message in the Baldur's Gate 3 EULA, rewarding those who actually read it.
- Striking deals with supernatural creatures is discouraged in the EULA, creating an amusing dilemma for players of the Warlock class.
- Larian's attention to detail and fun message in the user agreement reflect its dedication to fans and the game's source material.
Larian Studios added a clever, secret message to the EULA for Baldur's Gate 3 to surprise fans who actually read it. The developer's first entry in the classic RPG series has only just left early access, but it's already become a massive hit. Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the most popular games in Steam history, and it's receiving glowing reviews from critics.
It appears that Larian Studios gave players pretty much everything they could want. Baldur's Gate 3 even includes one specific detail that has gamers ecstatic. With so much to enjoy, it wouldn't be surprising if most fans simply click through the EULA without thinking about it just to get to the fun. This would be a mistake, however, as Larian added a fun little surprise for those that are paying close attention.
Stuck in the middle of the Baldur's Gate 3 user agreement, point five warns players against concluding any deals with supernatural creatures. Specifically, it instructs readers that, by agreeing to the EULA, gamers "agree to refrain from striking a deal with another creature of Fey, Infernal, or otherwise Eldritch origin." The message includes a few more nods to D&D lore and a tongue-in-cheek tone that should give fans a chuckle as they read through it.
Striking bargains with strange, powerful creatures is a longstanding part of the fantasy genre and Dungeons and Dragons in particular. Indeed, the Warlock class in the game specifically draws its powers from a pact with a Fey, Fiend, or other mysterious entity. Of course, this means that anyone who goes for a Baldur's Gate 3 Warlock build will technically be breaking this aspect of the agreement from the beginning of the game. Fortunately, Larian probably won't be bothered by this particular violation of the EULA.
Larian Studios has given fans a true masterpiece and is receiving lots of praise in return. The care and devotion the studio has shown to gamers and to the source material is evident in the story, gameplay, and, as it turns out, even the user agreement. The fact that Larian took the time to insert a fun message that few players were likely to even read speaks to its attention to detail and desire to have fun with fans.
Baldur's Gate 3's boss is already talking about future games and what's next for the studio. Many gamers, however, will likely want to savor this moment and simply enjoy the game that's out now. Those players, however, shouldn't jump into the gameplay too quickly. They should take a moment to read through the EULA first and enjoy a little laugh at a message to would-be Warlocks.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now on PC and will release for PS5 on September 6. An Xbox Series X/S version is also in development.
Source: IGN
