Highlights
- Baldur's Gate 3, the highly anticipated RPG, will be coming to Xbox between September and November, offering Xbox fans a chance to experience the game.
- Despite efforts to implement split-screen co-op on the Xbox Series S, it was not possible to do so and get the game out this year, resulting in the game launching on Xbox Series S without split-screen support.
- The game's release timing on Xbox will be crucial, as October is already crowded with major titles, but November could be a more optimal launch month, allowing it to stand out among the competition.
Larian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 has provided a window for when fans can expect the massive RPG to make its Xbox debut. Baldur's Gate 3 is not only the most celebrated RPG of 2023 up to this point, it's also tied with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as the highest rated overall game so far this year on Metacritic, even surpassing the likes of Metroid Prime Remastered, Resident Evil 4, Diablo 4, and Street Fighter 6. Baldur's Gate 3 was highly anticipated and very long awaited, but few expected it to have this huge of an impact on 2023's already stacked gaming landscape.
Baldur's Gate 3 was originally set to launch on PC and PS5 in 2023, skipping Xbox consoles due to the Xbox Series S being unable to run the game in split-screen co-op. Since the Xbox Series X|S generation began, Xbox had promised and held true to feature parity for all games between Series X and its less powerful Series S counterpart. On top of that, it was Larian Studios' requirement that Baldur's Gate 3 feature split-screen co-op on all platforms it ships on. With the Xbox Series S holding back the Xbox launch of Baldur's Gate 3, Xbox worked closely with Larian to attempt to get split screen up and running on Series S.
It seems these efforts didn't work out, as Xbox and Larian have come to an agreement to ship Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox without split screen support on Series S before the end of 2023. Now, Xbox fans have a better idea for when 2023's highest rated RPG will land on the console. Swen Vincke, the Director of Larian Studios, told IGN that Baldur's Gate 3 is aiming for an Xbox launch sometime between September and November.
When is Baldur's Gate 3 Coming to Xbox?
- September - November
With Baldur's Gate 3 launching on PS5 on September 6, it would be safe to assume that the RPG won't come to Xbox until later in September the earliest. Additionally, there doesn't seem to be much room in October, as it's crammed with several major titles releasing on Xbox like Assassin's Creed Mirage, Lords of the Fallen, Alan Wake 2, Forza Motorsport, and lots more. If Baldur's Gate 3 were to land on Xbox in October, it would likely steal the spotlight from many of these other titles as the highest rated game of the year so far. November is slightly less crowded and thus a more optimal launch month, home to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Like a Dragon Gaiden, and Persona 5 Tactica.
If Baldur's Gate 3 truly is ready for its Xbox release within the coming months, Larian should be close to locking in a solid date sooner rather than later. With how packed the rest of 2023 is, though, it will be interesting to see exactly where it lands among the sea of huge games this Fall and if its reputation will help it garner another massive audience on Xbox. Xbox fans who've been awaiting the highly celebrated RPG won't have to wait long to find out.
Baldur's Gate 3 is out now on PC, coming to PS5 on September 6, and in development for Xbox Series X|S.
Source: IGN
