Baldur's Gate 3 is set to release this summer for several platforms, however, Xbox consoles seem to be absent from the announcements and it's leaving many wondering why. Currently, the game is in early access on PC with its full launch happening on PC, Mac, GeForce Now, and PS5 at the same time on August 31 of this year. This has led some to believe that Sony paid for exclusive console rights, however, according to Larian Studios, there is no exclusivity for the game.
The DnD-themed video game, Baldur's Gate 3, is an open-world RPG set in the familiar territory of the Forgotten Realms. The game touts that though it can be played single-player, it features multiplayer accessibility including either online play or split-screen co-op. While this is a fun option that will make many friends and families enjoy the game more, it may be what is causing the issues regarding Xbox.
Technical Issues With Split-Screen Co-op Are Affecting Baldur's Gate 3 On Xbox
According to Baldur's Gate 3's developer, Larian Studios, they have had an Xbox version of the game in development for quite a while. Unfortunately, they have encountered technical issues relating to getting the split-screen co-op working the same on both Xbox Series X and S. The multiplayer options are an important requirement of the game, and as such the game will not be released without it. Until they have figured out a solution to the problem, there will be no announcement for the Xbox release of Baldur's Gate 3.
There Is No Platform Exclusivity For Baldur's Gate 3
The recent PlayStation State of Play showcase included a new trailer for Baldur's Gate 3 including the release date of August 31, which sparked many rumors regarding PlayStation having the exclusive console rights. Larian Studios was quick to issue a statement to correct these assumptions.
Following yesterday’s PS5 and release date announcement, we’ve clarified that right now, we’re planning to release Baldur’s Gate 3 for PC, Mac, GeForce NOW, and PS5. That said, we have no exclusivity for which platforms we can bring BG3 to, or when, and will announce for additional platforms if and when we’re ready. - Larian Studios
They went on to later include that they want to make sure that every version of the game is of high enough quality to live up to their standards and expectations.
It is unfortunate that the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3 has not been announced yet, although this announcement shows hope that the game will be coming soon. Once the development team is able to overcome the hurdles of split-screen multiplayer then it is likely that many avid Xbox players will be able to journey into the Forgotten Realms with their friends. This news also proves that Larian Studios is focused on quality as their actions of holding back the Xbox version rather than releasing it early with a future patch planned could cost them some in possible sales following launch hype. Likely this means that other details Baldur's Gate 3 will also be designed to be of high caliber.
Source: PushSquare, Larian Studios/YouTube
