Larian Studios announced today that Baldur's Gate 3, which was delayed earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will have an Early Access release on September 30 if all goes well. [Larian Creative Director Swen Vincke said, "We did Early Access for 'Original Sin 1' and loved it because it helped make 'OS1' a better game, and we hope to use the same Early Access for BG3. I hope to use Early Access in the same way for BG3."

The Early Access version will allow players to experience Avernis, Fearan, and Underdark and advance to level 4. Multiplayer support will not be offered at first, but we expect it to roll out in the not-too-distant future. They will also be able to recruit owl bear cubs to their camp.

They are very cute, though.

The Early Access release includes five Origin characters - Astarion (Elf/Vampire Rogue), Gale (Human Wizard), Raezel (Githyanki Warrior), Shadowheart (Half-Elf Cleric), Will (Human Warlock) - and Custom character creation will be included. More Origin characters will be released during Early Access.

Larian also said that the Early Access versions of Baldur's Gate 3 and the previous Divinity: The New Early Access launch may be delayed a bit longer: Vincke said in today's stream that the process of optimizing the game may cause unexpected, but hopefully short He stated that there could be delays. However, he seemed reasonably confident, adding later that "we have a really good chance of achieving the date."

As for how long Larian will keep "Baldur's Gate 3" in Early Access, Vincke said, "It's going to stay there for a while," and the updated Steam page predicts "at least a year."