Baldur’s Gate 3 was a smash-hit RPG. But behind the epic fantasy journey lies a tale of teamwork, and triumph, along with a bittersweet end.
Close Collaboration in the Early Stages
Larian Studios worked alongside Wizards of the Coast during the early phases of Baldur’s Gate 3 development. Wizards Dungeons & Dragons team provided “story and system support,” allowing Larian carte blanche to realize their vision. This collaborative relationship could prove critical in ensuring Baldur’s Gate 3 authentically captures the spirit of the iconic tabletop RPG.
During the first sessions, the two teams browsed through maps of the Sword Coast, the location of the Forgotten Realms where Baldur’s Gate is situated. They discussed possible story arcs, places to feature, and also how to grow D&D’s rich lore.
Crucially, they focused on ensuring Baldur’s Gate 3 would authentically capture the feeling of playing classic D&D classes and roles from the tabletop game. As former D&D creative director Mike Mearls put it, Wizards opened the “toy box” of D&D lore and guidance for Larian.
Wizards’ Vital Contributions
Swen Vincke, Larian’s CEO, expressed deep gratitude for Wizards’ partnership, allowing them to create the game they envisioned without interference. Beyond upfront story/system collaboration, Wizards also reviewed and approved dialogue, character arcs, and more as development progressed.
They even signed off on now-infamous scenes like the “bear sex” encounter between party members Astarion and Halsin the druid.
Mearls and other Wizards staff became familiar faces promoting Baldur’s Gate 3 alongside Larian in 2019 after the game’s announcement. Their presence at reveals highlighted the direct involvement of D&D’s creators.
When the credits rolled, Mearls and Wizards of the Coast as a whole featured prominently in the “special thanks” section, underscoring their crucial contributions.
Devastating Layoffs Strike
However, in late 2023, Hasbro’s corporate-wide layoffs severely impacted the very Wizards team that helped birth Baldur’s Gate 3. As Vincke watched the game win Game of the Year at The Game Awards in December, he lamented that “almost nobody” remained from that original core group at Wizards who championed the ambitious project in its earliest days.
Mike Mearls, who had transitioned to directing game design for Magic: The Gathering in 2020, was among those let go by Hasbro’s cost-cutting measures.
His collaborator Shaun Roe, a digital games producer who helped review Baldur’s Gate 3’s dialogue alongside other Wizards staff, expressed sadness that so few remained to celebrate the game’s success after years of work.
A Bittersweet Victory
While accepting Game of the Year represented a massive creative triumph, it was undoubtedly bittersweet for Larian.
The partner who gave them the keys to the D&D kingdom had been decimated, with few familiar faces left from that original “meeting room” where Baldur’s Gate 3 began tactically taking shape.
As Vincke reflected, Larian created the dark fantasy RPG it wanted to make, with Wizards being “very intentional about not interfering with that” bold creative process. But the loss of so many talented developers, writers, and lore custodians who championed Baldur’s Gate 3 internally at Wizards made the celebrated moment “tragic” in some ways.
Still, Vincke made sure to thank Wizards, and specifically the displaced D&D team, for their generous collaboration. He wished all those let go the best, expressing hope they “end up well” after bringing an audacious vision to life against daunting odds.
