Baldur’s Gate 3 success sparks rivalry and admiration in RPG giants
The success of Baldur’s Gate 3 has drawn praise from rival studios, including CD Projekt Red. Michał Nowakowski, the company’s CEO, highlighted how the game handles player interactions with its cdkey-activated world. While inspired by certain elements, the Polish developer has no plans to shift away from its own style of large-scale RPGs.
Larian Studios, meanwhile, is moving forward with two new role-playing projects. The Belgian team has also made it clear they will avoid the DLC model, sticking to full releases instead.
CD Projekt Red has openly admired Baldur’s Gate 3 for its dynamic world and how characters respond to player choices. Nowakowski singled out these mechanics as standout features. Despite this admiration, the studio insists it will continue focusing on expansive open worlds rather than adopting Larian’s approach.
The team behind The Witcher 4 is also cautioning fans to manage their expectations ahead of the game’s release. After the troubled launch of Cyberpunk 2077, the developer is determined to avoid repeating past mistakes. Their current strategy centres on major releases rather than smaller side projects.
Larian Studios, fresh from the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, is already deep into development on two new RPGs. The company has long resisted the trend of post-launch DLCs, preferring to deliver complete experiences from the start. This philosophy sets them apart in an industry often criticised for fragmented content releases.
Both studios are taking different paths in the RPG landscape. CD Projekt Red remains committed to refining its signature open-world formula while learning from Larian’s achievements. Larian, on the other hand, is doubling down on self-contained games without additional paid content. The choices reflect each company’s priorities as they prepare for future releases.
