With Baldur’s Gate 3’s Steam Player Count Booming Following Patch 8, Larian Now Has ‘Room to Focus on Making Our Next Big Thing as Good as We Can’

The release of Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 has reignited a wave of enthusiasm among players, sparking a significant surge in activity on Steam. This renewed interest has placed Larian Studios in a strong position as they pivot attention toward their next major project. The patch, which arrived last week, introduced a substantial array of new content—most notably 12 brand-new subclasses—along with a photo mode, both of which proved to be instant hits with the community.

Thanks to this update, the game achieved an impressive peak of over 169,000 concurrent players on Steam during the weekend. This is an especially notable milestone for a primarily single-player RPG, particularly one that’s now entering its second year on the market. While data for console players remains undisclosed, the PC numbers alone underscore just how much vitality the game still retains long after launch.

In response to the success of the update, studio head Swen Vincke expressed his optimism about the game’s continued performance. He acknowledged that the development of Patch 8 required considerable effort, but ultimately stated that he was pleased with the results. Vincke also highlighted the impact of the growing modding community, suggesting that ongoing support from modders would help extend the game’s lifespan significantly.

More importantly, this post-launch momentum grants Larian Studios the flexibility and breathing room they need to pour their energy into the next project. Vincke confirmed that the team now has space to focus fully on creating “our next big thing,” noting that they are acutely aware of the high expectations following the critical and commercial triumph of Baldur’s Gate 3. As he put it, “We’ve got big shoes to fill.”

Patch 8 marks a closing chapter for Baldur’s Gate 3 in terms of major updates, and while minor fixes and support may continue, this update essentially concludes Larian’s direct content development for the title. The studio had already made waves earlier this year by announcing that they would not be continuing with the Baldur’s Gate series or the Dungeons & Dragons license, signaling a bold move toward wholly original work. That shift was followed by a self-imposed media blackout, allowing the developers to concentrate fully on their next creation without external pressure or distractions.

Although Larian is moving forward, the Baldur’s Gate franchise itself may not be finished. Hasbro, which owns the Dungeons & Dragons property, has indicated an interest in continuing the series in some form. Dan Ayoub, a senior figure in Hasbro’s digital games division, hinted that while Larian’s departure creates a transitional period, plans are already being explored to keep the franchise alive.

Ayoub acknowledged the weight of following up a game as successful as Baldur’s Gate 3, calling it a “somewhat unenviable position.” Nevertheless, he stressed that Hasbro is not rushing into anything and is taking a measured approach. According to him, conversations are already underway about what comes next, with more concrete details expected to emerge in the near future.

Whether these plans involve a full-fledged Baldur’s Gate 4, a spin-off, or a collaborative project that ties into other Hasbro properties remains unclear. What is evident, however, is that the legacy of Baldur’s Gate is far from over—even as its most recent steward, Larian Studios, closes the book on their chapter and begins writing the next one in their growing history.