A recent official release day blog post and trailer for Baldur's Gate 3 (opens in new tab) confirmed a lot of what I wanted to hear, including that the highly anticipated RPG will finally be releasing its full 1.0 version on August 31 of this year (opens in new tab).

But even more exciting was Larian Studios' confirmation that PC gamers who purchased (or already own) the Early Access version will receive a "free upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition" on release day (new tab (open in new tab)).

Here's what the Deluxe Edition will include:

In my opinion, this is a really nice boon, rewarding loyal players who helped keep the game's momentum going during development (and contributed to the game through player feedback) and making It's a great reason to get "Baldur's Gate 3" in Early Access now that a third of the game is already playable.

But to be honest, the free upgrade was not the reason I immediately opened my wallet and purchased the Early Access version of Baldur's Gate 3. My reason was 100% based on the release day trailer for Baldur's Gate 3 (which you can check out below if you haven't seen it yet).

I opened my wallet because Larian Studios dropped off a big baddie that, in my opinion, was a brilliantly realized example of how a studio really understands what it takes to make a truly great fantasy RPG.

Just a few lines from actor J.K. Simmons' portrayal of General Ketherick Thorne had me rapt, the echoes of the late David Warner's impressive performance as the elf wizard John Irenicus, the villain in "Baldur's Gate 2," ringing in my ears.

"This woman had certain powers. She lost her parents to the plague and her husband to the war, but she held on. She was respected, her farm prospered, her children were well provided for. And now she is dead.

"Do you understand the power you may have" When the physical world is beneath you, even mystical and magical creatures will fall.

"Are you destined to be forgotten? Will your life fade away in the shadow of a greater being?"

I liked the way he was written as well as the distinctive, gravely, and very human voice of Kezarik, who tells part of the sad story. It is clear that there is a rich story here, rooted in very human emotions and motivations. While we don't get to hear all of Kesarik's story, it is clear from the trailer and the companion video for "In The Booth" (opens in a new tab) that his life has been one of suffering.

In my opinion, all great adversaries have such qualities. Even if only for a brief moment, you can feel a kinship with them in terms of why they do what they do and how they became the enemies that now stand before you: in Baldur's Gate II, Irenicus, in Neverwinter Nights Alibes de Tirumalande, and in "Dragon Age: Inquisition" it was Solas.

Fantasy or not, it is the human element in storytelling that many RPGs often forget macro-level warfare and politics and repeat tired fantasy troupes and story beats, suffocating the actually interesting and relatable element. Yes, I'm willing to bet big on epic fantasy RPGs, but that doesn't sustain me through 60+ hours of story. I need emotions. I need to find a connection between my party members and me that makes them matter. I need to understand why my enemies must be defeated, regardless of how they came to be in my way.

But the voice acting, performed by actors of the caliber of David Warner and J.K. Simmons, is profound and of high quality. It brings the story to life. And after seeing and hearing Kezarik in action, I was determined to wait until the complete version 1. As a big fan of the Baldur's Gate series, and of RPGs in general, the release of Baldur's Gate 3 was widely reported.