D&D is bigger than Baldur's Gate 3

[ad_1] The announcement of an HBO collection based mostly on the hit recreation Baldur’s Gate 3 has left me excited and perplexed in equal measure. As a large fan of Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms (the setting of BG3), I can’t wait to see that implausible world come to life in what I hope can be a worthy adaptation. However did it should be a Baldur’s Gate 3 present?

With over 400 hours of playtime underneath my belt, I've nothing in opposition to the sport. I completely loved the expertise that Larian Studios created. Nonetheless, I can’t assist however really feel that Baldur’s Gate 3’s well-earned recognition has overshadowed D&D’s wealthy and huge mythos. A status HBO drama would solely serve to make the online game synonymous with the Forgotten Realms. Over the course of 5 a long time, so many nice D&D tales have been informed, with loads of memorable characters, that I simply don’t suppose all the pieces D&D-related needs to be related to Baldur’s Gate 3.

Just some days in the past, Wizards of the Coast introduced a brand new Secret Lair drop collection for Magic: The Gathering, referred to as Roll for Initiative. It’s D&D-themed, and two of the seven drops are constructed round BG3 characters: Shadowheart and Gale. They be a part of Astarion’s Thirst and Karlach’s Rage, that means that 4 out of seven of the origin characters from the sport now have a Secret Lair. That’s cool, however wouldn't it be an excessive amount of to ask for a Drizzt Do’Urden Secret Lair as a substitute?

<img width="825" height="464" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Drizzt and Guenhwyvar on the cover of R.A. Salvatore's Homeland" data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/drizzt-and-guenhwyvar-on-the-cover-of-r-a-salvatore-s-homeland.jpg?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/drizzt-and-guenhwyvar-on-the-cover-of-r-a-salvatore-s-homeland.jpg?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1" class="img-brightness-opt-out"/> Picture: Wizards of the Coast Issues usually are not so totally different within the precise D&D recreation. Nearly each latest Forgotten Realms-related product has some reference to Baldur’s Gate 3. The sport’s characters characteristic prominently on the duvet of Heroes of Faerûn and in advertising and marketing materials. Karlach is talked about in that very same e-book a number of occasions, too. There's additionally Astarion's Guide of Hungers, which explores the seediest a part of Baldur’s Gate via — you guessed it — the sport’s iconic vampire thirst entice, Astarion.

It’s an comprehensible technique, contemplating that the sport offered over 20 million copies. Nonetheless, even the perfect ice cream on the planet will make you sick in the event you eat it each day. (Go to the gorgeous city of Salerno, Italy, for some Nocciatella taste. It’s additionally one of many areas that allegedly impressed Arc Riders.) Working example, the HBO collection being offered as a sequel to Baldur’s Gate 3 makes the worth of the unique textual content much more befuddling.

After the collection’ announcement, Larian’s CEO Swen Vincke wrote on X that “the endings of BG3 have been created so they might function narrative soil for brand spanking new adventures,” however I don’t suppose this essentially applies to all characters. One of the best instance is Karlach’s ending: Until she takes over the ability of the Absolute, she is destined to both die when her infernal engine lastly overheats or completely relocate to Avernus and combat devils without end. It’s a fairly badass ending that Larian added in patch 2 to make the tiefling barbarian’s finale much less tragic. But it surely’s additionally incompatible with any type of sequel. If Karlach exhibits up within the HBO collection (as she’s sure to do), it could invalidate her resolution to both die as a free girl or spend eternity combating the hordes of Hell. Sorry, gamers who needed to watch her burn to loss of life on Baldur’s Gate docks, evidently a TV deal is the perfect resurrection spell within the recreation!

<img width="825" height="464" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="Karlach — a Tiefling with red skin, orange eyes and a missing horn — faces the camera, gazing to the left." data-img-url="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Karlach.jpg?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1" src="https://static0.polygonimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Karlach.jpg?q=70&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1" class="img-brightness-opt-out"/> Picture: Larian Studios through Polygon To not contradict the creator of the sport, however for my part, each character in BG3 goes via an outlined arc that ends with some type of closure, and any follow-up dangers invalidating that. Extra importantly, there's simply no want for it. Moderately than hold milking the identical, exhausted cow, creatives might attempt to look additional into the inexperienced pastures of D&D. Theoretical Baldur’s Gate showrunner Craig Mazin mentioned to Deadline that, moreover having clocked in 1,000 hours in BG3, he’s additionally been a Dungeon Grasp for 15 years. So, he is most likely acquainted with a little bit Drow ranger who's acquired an enormous panther and two scimitars, who followers have been clamoring for many years to see tailored to the display. Or of the perfect vampire in D&D, who, I’m sorry people, would eat Astarion for dinner. Actually.

However the fact is that this gained’t be a Baldur’s Gate 3 present in any respect. In keeping with Mazin’s interview, the collection will observe new protagonists who're sure to run into beloved characters from Baldur’s Gate 3, who will meddle with the brand new heroes’ quest, serving to or hindering them. The present may even “draw deeply from the supply materials of Baldur’s Gate 3,” however this sounds rather more like an unique story with references to the sport than an precise adaptation or sequel. Larian additionally gained’t be concerned within the present.

With one other Forgotten Realms live-action present in growth at Netflix (which, by the best way, creator Shawn Levy continues to be not fully positive will transfer ahead), this looks as if a method to differentiate HBO’s manufacturing from its potential rival on Netflix. Moreover capitalizing on the enduring recognition of one of the well-known RPGs in recent times, in fact. (Even when it’s not so good as Baldur’s Gate 2.)

Picture: Wizards of the Coast I might by no means complain about extra mainstream consideration for D&D, however this technique dangers shrinking the IP quite than increasing it. I don’t wish to sound like a Drizzt fanboy (okay, too late), however there are such a lot of characters which are simply as attention-grabbing because the solid of Baldur’s Gate 3, or extra: Jarlaxle, Manshoon, Strahd, Asmodeus, Cyric, and the record goes on. Stepping exterior the Forgotten Realms, different settings are simply begging to get a media adaptation: Darkish Solar and Eberron, for instance, every have distinctive aesthetics and vibes that may be good for a TV present.

In the end, I believe that this can be a D&D present that may borrow the Baldur’s Gate label and a few of the characters and story hooks from Larian’s recreation. So, you recognize, there’s nonetheless hope Drizzt will present up. Fairly please?