Baldur's Gate 3 Surges on Steam Post-Patch 8, Larian Shifts Focus to Next Big Project

Baldur's Gate 3 has experienced a significant surge in player numbers on Steam following the release of the highly anticipated Patch 8, setting developer Larian Studios up well for their next major project. This enormous, game-changing update, which was launched last week, introduced 12 new subclasses and a brand new photo mode, sparking a wave of excitement among fans eager to explore these additions.

Over the weekend, Baldur’s Gate 3 reached a concurrent player peak of 169,267 on Steam—a remarkable achievement for a single-player focused role-playing game in its second year. While Sony and Microsoft do not disclose PlayStation or Xbox player numbers, the impact on Steam is clear.

Reflecting on Patch 8's release, Larian's CEO, Swen Vincke, expressed optimism via Twitter, noting that he expects Baldur’s Gate 3 to "continue to do well for quite some time," fueled not only by the Patch 8 player boost but also by the game's thriving mod support. This success provides Larian with the opportunity to shift focus towards developing their next ambitious project. "We’ve got big shoes to fill," Vincke remarked, underscoring the high expectations for their upcoming game.

Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3, concluding a remarkable chapter for Larian. Since its launch in 2023, the game has received critical acclaim and achieved substantial commercial success, continuing to sell strongly into 2025.

In a surprising move, Larian announced their departure from the Baldur’s Gate series and the Dungeons & Dragons universe to focus on a new, mysterious project, initiating a media blackout to concentrate on development.

Meanwhile, Hasbro, the owner of D&D, has hinted at plans to continue the Baldur’s Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, mentioned that with Larian moving on, "a lot of people [are] very interested in Baldur's Gate." Ayoub indicated that Hasbro is formulating future plans for the franchise and teased that announcements could be forthcoming. While he did not specify whether these plans involve a new full-scale Baldur's Gate game or something like a crossover event, he expressed a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, though he acknowledged that such a project would require time and careful planning.