Astarion Was a Tiefling in an Early Version of Baldur's Gate 3, GDC Panel Reveals

Larian, the developer behind hit role-player Baldur's Gate 3, has said it will likely follow the same early access release model for its unannounced next project.

Baldur’s Gate 3 gets exceptional praise, winning multiple awards last year and selling “way over” 10 million copies (potentially even 15 million). However, it was also a calculated risk for Larian Studios, which grew exponentially over the years to accommodate the massive project. What would it have done if the RPG wasn’t a success?

Baldur's Gate 3 director Swen Vincke has revealed some surprising cut content that didn't make it into the final incarnation of the game, already one of the largest, most complete we've ever played. So, if you ever wondered which villains were once considered for companion status or which iconic locations from the series would ultimately not make the grade, read on. Vague spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3 to follow!

A new Astarion cosplay for has been making the rounds on social media due to how hilariously relatable it is. Astarion is one of the many recruitable companions in and also one of the most beloved among the community of players. This character created by Larian Studios is a half-elf vampire that, alongside Tav and their other partners, has become infected with an Illythid tadpole. Astarion easily ascended to become one of the favorite characters in the game due to his witty personality, brilliantly translated by Neil Newbon’s performance.

Baldur's Gate 3 featured a lot of absolutely epic moments throughout the course of its long and satisfying storyline, but as with any game, some great ideas were unfortunately cut in in the final version.

Larian Studios releases hotfix 23 for Baldur's Gate 3, which aims to continue improving the player's experience by addressing various bugs, crashes, and other oddities. It's been a bitter-sweet week for fans of the massively popular RPG, as Larian Studios boss Swen Vincke confirmed that Baldur's Gate 3 isn't getting any expansions, DLC, or even a sequel. The studio instead intends to move on to new projects, with many speculating that the popular Divinity series could be Larian's focus going forward.

The party composition in was almost even more chaotic before Larian Studios opted to keep a major Act 2 evildoer away from any kind of redemption. Throughout players' adventures through the Forgotten Realms, Tav can recruit an assortment of colorful companions to their side, each one bringing their own unique backstory and baggage that must be carefully handled. While the recruitable allies are all beloved in their own right, one villainous member may have been just a stretch too far.

Larian is moving away from Dungeons & Dragons and Baldur's Gate for its next project, but CEO Swen Vincke says the studio had made a start on Baldur's Gate 3 DLC and was even thinking about a proper sequel before the final decision was made.

At long last, Baldur's Gate 3's physical PC Deluxe Edition has begun making its way into fans' hands, and for anyone who loves filling their shelves with games, this one is an absolute beauty. Especially if you're someone who already owns boxed editions of other classic Dungeons & Dragons RPGs.

Baldur's Gate 3 boss Swen Vincke has revealed a number of ideas cut from the game during its development — including the ability to recruit a major antagonist as a companion character.

Baldur's Gate 3 Act 2 spoilers ahead.

Baldur's Gate 3 players have gotten really silly with mods since the game came out, including creating a number of mods that allow otherwise unplayable characters to join the party. But according to Larian Studios head Swen Vincke, a number of those characters may have been considered for inclusion as companions early in development, including one particular villain.