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Picture: Steam store page (Larian Studios)

Baldur's Gate 3

Released 3 August 2023 Developer Larian Studios

A story-driven fantasy role-playing game using Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition rules. You create a character or play one of the companions, make choices through a very long adventure, and fight in turn-based battles. It can be played alone or in online co-op for up to four players, and it contains strong sexual content, nudity and violence, so it is an adult game.

Money health FairPay clearly, know the ceiling
Addictive design None0 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price A$100.28average of 3 store prices
Spending ceiling Has a ceilingEverything costs A$104.45
Australian rating ACBMA 15+Sexualised imagery, strong nudity, strong sex scenes

How it makes money

Fair: pay clearly, know the ceiling

Bought once: A$89.95 on Steam, A$104.95 on Xbox and A$105.95 on PlayStation 5. Larian first sold it in Steam Early Access from October 2020, before the full release in August 2023. An optional Digital Deluxe upgrade adds cosmetic items, a soundtrack and an artbook (A$14.50 as Steam add-on content; the deluxe edition is A$119.95 on Xbox and A$120.95 on PlayStation). The developer's FAQ says the game has no in-game purchases, and Steam lists none.

How you pay

  • Editions

    The Digital Deluxe Edition adds cosmetic items, a soundtrack and an artbook for A$14.50 on Steam (full edition A$119.95 on Xbox, A$120.95 on PlayStation); a physical deluxe edition also exists.

    minor part of the game
  • Online sub

    Online co-op on PlayStation 5 and Xbox needs the console's paid online subscription (PlayStation Plus or Xbox's online service); PC co-op does not.

    minor part of the game
  • Pay once

    A$89.95 on Steam for the whole game, with no in-game store or currency.

Used to, but no longer

  • Early accessremoved

    Sold in Steam Early Access from 6 October 2020 until the full release on 3 August 2023; it is no longer sold as early access.

What it costs

Price: A$100.28 · everything A$104.45

WhatWherePriceChecked
Standard Steam (AU) · PC A$89.95 Oct 2026
Digital Deluxe Edition (add-on content)
Cosmetic items, soundtrack, artbook and character sheets.		 Steam (AU) · PC A$14.50 Oct 2026
Standard PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 A$105.95 Oct 2026
Digital Deluxe Edition PlayStation Store (AU) · PS5 A$120.95 Oct 2026
Standard Xbox Store (AU) · Xbox Series A$104.95 Oct 2026
Digital Deluxe Edition Xbox Store (AU) · Xbox Series A$119.95 Oct 2026

Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.

Reviews from across the web

What the critics said

96OpenCritic
Mighty 96Metacritic
Metascore
Overwhelmingly PositiveSteam
player reviews
  • 10/ 10

    IGN

    Leana Hafer · August 2023 · PC

    Praises the tactical combat, story and polish, and a world that rewards exploration, as a new high point for computer RPGs.

  • 97/ 100

    PC Gamer

    Fraser Brown · 16 August 2023 · PC

    Calls it an unmatched RPG that will take over a player's free time.

  • 9.5/ 10

    Game Informer

    Josh Broadwell · 16 August 2023 · PC

    Finds it unforgettable and is keen to keep exploring even after a long first playthrough.

  • 10/ 10

    GameSpot

    Jake Dekker · PC

    Describes a vast, dense RPG with strong characters, combat and co-op.

  • Review

    Polygon

    Gita Jackson · 18 August 2023 · PC

    Expects to replay it for years and calls it a Dungeons & Dragons masterpiece, with some frustrating moments.

Scores belong to the outlets that published them; follow the links to read the full reviews. Summaries are ours.

Age ratings & content

What's in it

Content labels

  • Violencestrong

    Fighting, weapons, injury and death, from cartoon bonks to realistic killing.

    From ESRB and PEGI descriptors
  • Blood & gorestrong

    Blood, injuries and body damage on screen.

    From ESRB descriptors
  • Sex & nuditystrong

    Sexual references, innuendo, sexualised imagery, nudity and sex scenes.

    From ACB, ESRB and PEGI descriptors
  • Languagestrong

    Swearing and crude language, from the odd 'damn' to frequent strong profanity.

    From ESRB and PEGI descriptors

Classification

ACBMA 15+

Australian Classification · record

Sexualised imagery, strong nudity, strong sex scenes

ESRBM

ESRB (North America) · record

Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Sexual Content, Nudity, Strong Language

Interactive elements: Users Interact

PEGI18

PEGI (Europe) · record

Violence, Bad Language, Sex

Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes), summed up in the content labels above. They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the money badges are for. About rating boards

Safety & parental controls

Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?

  • Text chat
  • No contact with strangers
  • User-made content: not recorded
  • Account: not recorded

Adult content: strong sexual scenes, nudity, intense violence and strong language (ESRB M, PEGI 18). Steam's own Australian listing shows R 18+, while the Australian Classification database record dated 30 September 2026 shows MA 15+, so check the store you buy from. Online co-op for up to four players is by invitation, with cross-play across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox added in the final patch (Patch 8); there are no public lobbies. Text chat inside co-op sessions. Community mods exist for PC; whether the in-game mod tools are checked by Larian was not confirmed.

Who makes it

The company behind it, and its track record

Larian Studios

Developer and publisher · Ghent, Belgium · founded 1996

  • Pay-once house

    Pay-once house

    Baldur's Gate 3 is sold once; Larian released major free patches through April 2025 and said in March 2024 it would not make paid DLC or expansions for it.
  • Independent

    Independent studio

    Founder-run and self-publishing its games since 2012; Tencent is reported to hold a minority stake, but no publisher or platform owner controls it.

Latest on the record

  1. Other

    Said it would not use generative AI for Divinity concept art

    GamesIndustry.biz
  2. Good practice

    Released the final free Baldur's Gate 3 patch

    GamesRadar+
  3. Labour

    Said staff did 'a bit of crunch' on Baldur's Gate 3

    GamesIndustry.biz

Larian Studios: full profile and track record →

A company's history doesn't change this game's money verdict, which rates only how the game itself makes money. About company track records

Platforms & release

Where you can play it

PlatformReleasedStore
PlayStation 5 6 September 2023 Store page
Xbox Series X|S 7 December 2023 Store page
Windows PC
Steam Early Access from 2020-10-06.		 3 August 2023 Store page
Mac 22 September 2023 Store page
Linux / Steam Deck
Build optimised for Steam Deck.		 23 September 2025 —

Further reading

Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.steampowered.com, store.playstation.com, displaycatalog.mp.microsoft.com, www.classification.gov.au, baldursgate3.game, opencritic.com, en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.