Baldur's Gate 3 reminds players what it was like to get finished games at launch

Baldur's Gate 3 is an exception to a defacto rule that AAA games normally require multiple patches post-release to feel complete. Fans want more games to

[Abriael]

I really don't think that releasing a finished game after a year of early access equates to simply releasing a finished game at launch.

Especially, not what it "was like" since early access wasn't a thing when games normally released 100% finished at launch.

Don't get me wrong, I love BG3, but this article is based on a pretty massive false equivalence. Larian started getting people's money *way* before the game was even close to finished.

[Abriael]

My bad, nearly 3 years of early access. Boy, time flies.

[anast]

Yes, it does.

[DaCajun]

Stop it, you're speaking too much common sense in your comments, adove and below. We can not have these acts of common sense on this overly fanboy Corpo butt kissing site.

I repeat please stop before a cease and desist letter is sent to you for using common sense on the premises.

[dumahim]

The game launched basically finished last week. How long of an early access there was is irrelevant. It's just a paid beta that people can join in on if they want.

[Abriael]

Ah yeah, a paid beta totally isn't equivalent to releasing unfinished. You do understand that you can "join if you want" even when a game officially releases?

It's literally the same thing with a different name. The only real difference is that Baldur's gate 3 was released unfinished and remained unfinished for 3 years. Early access is literally the by-the-book definition of releasing unfinished.

Lol, the things you read on the internet. 😂

[Zombieburger638]

And unlike most ea/betas they actually took feedback and improved the game. Overall the choice of ea benefited everyone and the game.

[JEECE]

@abriael

I agree BG3's launch isn't the same as a game releasing feature complete with no major bugs without an early access period, but I do think we can distinguish between a game having an early access release where the devs are explicit that the game isn't finished, and a game "launching" in an unfinished state. Early access may be another way of releasing an unfinished game, but at least then the devs are being honest with the audience and providing a warning that the game isn't feature complete.

[Sonic1881]

"Larian started getting people's money *way* before the game was even close to finished."

And it worked and they made a finish game that's almost perfect. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe how great this game is. I haven't played a game almost this perfect in years. I haven’t experience one bug in this game and even the 60 fps is perfect depending on your hardware

[Abriael]

No one's disputing that it's great. But it 100% launched unfinished. And way less finished than most games.

Calling it "early access" doesn't make it less so.

The moment you ask money for your game is what counts, the distinction between early access and official release is absolutely limited to semantics. And they didn't even ask for less money during early access like most developers do. We all paid full price.

To the consumer, there's zero difference between a game released in early access at full price and a game released unfinished.

[VersusDMC]

So you're saying because it worked every developer should make half the game and release it for 60 then release the rest of the game 3 years later?

And if you google baldur's gate 3 bugs you will still see a lot of bugs being reported.

[Sonic1881]

"And if you google baldur's gate 3 bugs you will still see a lot of bugs being reported."

It's minor compared to other games like Bethesda games

[Name Last Name]

@Abriel

I would say early access is a mutual agreement between dev and gamers that a game is being actively worked on and they’re not BS-ing us.

Unlike other devs who release “complete” games only to act surprised when gamers call them out on missing features.

[NotoriousWhiz]

I get your point, but labels matter. When I look for a game, and I see Early Access, I know that the game isn't ready for prime time and so I'll add it to my wish list and patiently wait for the full launch. When I see a game is not in early access, I expect it to be completed and any updates are relatively minor.

[VersusDMC]

So developers can launch half a game full of bugs for full price if they say it's early access?

And the game still has bugs as well if you google it. There a save game bug IGN reported on

https://www.ign.com/article...

[Abriael]

Labels matter only to those who like to discuss semantics.

To the customer, it's exactly the same thing.

[Crows90]

So tell me the difference between optional support/pre order/early purchase options and what larian started?

Many games that release take money from pre orders way before the game is finished.

But I do find it funny how you exaggerate this massive false equivalence to a small detail AND way before the game was even closed to finish...since well...it was playable.

The only difference is technology allows what larian did now and it wasn't possible before. The game never claimed to be finished until it launched...no false equivalence just your nitpicking.

Preorders ask for money before a game is finished. You're not making any real sense...you're pissed the game is doing well for some odd reason.

[blacktiger]

at least it wasn't launched unfinished cough* redfall
you want to release in ten years go ahead but stop doing constant delay when you could've shut up and then open you mouth near launch.

Till then please launch a finished game like BG3

[Charlieboy333]

Oh FFS. Playstation first party has been providing complete experiences every single damn time! Uncharted (all of them), God of War (both of them), Last of Us (both of them), Ghost of Tsushima, Spider-Man (both of them), Horizon (both of them), Days Gone, Ratchet and Clank (all of them) and more have ALL been completely playable as is without patches.....as are PS games going back generations.

I can put any of their discs in and play all the way through without a patch. Days Gone is the only one that improved by any margin post patch and even then it wasn't a dealbreaker....just a bunch of fannies overeggagerating the problems ignored in other non Sony games. Baldur's gate is also in need of patches....I saw a damn dwarf turn his head in a cutscene while his beard stayed in place.....came right off his damn chin.

This Baldur's gate c**ksucking is pathetic....and the constant downplaying or complete ignorance if Sony's efforts and accomplishments in the media is really starting to piss me off. When Spider-Man 2 releases I will bet there is not a single article stating how good it is out the gate without having to be 'fixed'.

We get it, Baldur's gate is an exceptional game, but it is not some new standard of quality......waiting on the "Baldur's gate saved my marriage" articles.

Rant over.

[spicelicka]

lmao both you and the article author are cringe. The author literally wrote 2 paragraphs off of a reddit discussion, like that's an "article" these days. And you managed to shoehorn your Sony fanboy hardon in a post that has nothing to do with Sony. The article doesn't even mention Sony or PlayStation nor have I seen "constant downplaying or complete ignorance if Sony's efforts and accomplishments in the media", especially when it comes to the topic of releasing finished games. Did you forget that God of war was nominated for Game of the year last year? Omg so much downplaying and injustice by the media for poor Sony, you must not be able to sleep at night!!

[Charlieboy333]

Yeah yeah....if you don't understand what I'm talking about then rather shut up. This just happened to be the time and place I got triggered to vent on things that have been annoying me more and more lately.

[Soulsborne]

3 years of early access.
That right goes to Elden Ring.

[Crows90]

Nah...elden ring open world is nice at first but not so nice after 1 or 2 sections of it.

Repeated dungeons, etc. Great game and combat like all fromsoft games but some clear flaws later on in the game.

Haven't played bladurs gate to the end yet so not saying one is better than the other by any means. This isn't a pissing contest between great games. And if it is...then that's a nice piss to have.

[JEECE]

Did they ever fix the issue where you have to play the PS4 version of the game on PS5 in order to get a stable framerate?

[Jinjojuice49]

Nintendo and sony first party games have been doing this for years.