Summary
Developers of role-playing games face an uphill climb to outfit their games with every possible feature players would like. The constant demand for expanded content and immersion has birthed full-blown post-launch campaigns, although even these additional content streams and fixes can’t soothe every fan base craving. That’s where mods come in, and the era of independent gamer tweaking has come to stay in franchises likeThe SimsandFallout. Similarly, while Larian Studios’Baldur’s Gate 3has cultivated a reputation for being one of the deeper titles in terms of storyline development and character classes, fans are still seeking even more customized playthroughs through mods. Some of these mods have grown fast in popularity, and although they can only be accessed via PC for now,Baldur’s Gate 3could fully tap into the market by offering console support for fan-made content.
The main driving forces behindBaldur’s Gate 3’s remarkable sales numbers were Larian Studios' focus on customization and attention to minute details. At release,BG3featured 12 classes and a staggering 46 subclasses with unique specializations for players to explore Faerun through multiple lenses, ensuring the title would retain replay value much longer than regular RPGs. Despite the diverse experiences, a few stapleDungeons and Dragonsfan favorites didn’t make the final cut to appear in the title, and modders stepped in to fill the gap. However, these packages are only playable on PC, andBG3’s console players were left out. Withofficial confirmation of Larian Studios' cross-platform mod plans,Baldur’s Gate 3has the potential to scale even more heights.
Console Mod Support Could Transform Baldur’s Gate 3’s Gameplay
It was commonplace modding to not be the focus in the past, but more studios are taking the community into account in light of Bethesda’s considerable successes withSkyrimandFallout’s Creation Clubs.
BG3’s Console Experience Pales in Comparison to PC’s Mod Offerings
A staunch position against mod activity on consoles by developers, inThe Sims 4, for example, only leads to a considerable section of players electing to experience their virtual worlds on PC. Predictably, the number of console players in such a case would be significantly lower than that of PC gamers, sinceBaldur’s Gate 3isn’t getting any DLC, it stands to reason that Larian Studios would officially back mods as a means of bolstering its content.
Although it isn’t clear when players can expect the support to arrive, there’s already palpable excitement in the community, as some of thebestBaldur’s Gate 3modssignificantly improve adventures across Faerun’s lands. For instance, the Blood Hunter class mod is one of the most popular on offer at the moment. The category seemingly takes inspiration fromThe Witcher, as the Order of the Ghostslayer subclass focuses on hunting unnatural ghouls with their blood magic abilities. Since there’s no blood magic in the baseBG3, console players have missed out on roleplaying a playthrough of Geralt of Rivia.
Mod Support Could Stand In for BG3’s Lack of DLCs
Similarly, the Wizard class has been accentuated by the Artificer mod, introducing a character class that combines magic and technology – a handy combination for dealing withenemies inBaldur’s Gate 3. Aside from the mod’s gameplay additions, it also has a unique UI and a set of icons sharing a similar aesthetic design with the originalDungeons and Dragonsinspiration. These enhancements go a long way to taking theBG3experience to an even higher level than the already illustrious achievements Larian Studios has attained.
While the developers are officially working on console mod support forBaldur’s Gate 3, there are still a few issues for Larian Studios to iron out to ensure a smooth transition. A few of these popular mods can break other components of the base game, and the integration process needs to allow for a seamless experience in a console setting. Whatever the case may be, the lack of a post-launch campaign has elevated the importance of mods to around the same level asBaldur’s Gate 3’s official updates, and official console mod support could be a game changer for the title.
