Baldur’s Gate 3 dev hid the game’s release date in plain sight 5 years before launch, and no one noticed

Larian Studios delivered one of the best games of all time with Baldur’s Gate 3, but it took a long time to craft the wonderkid of modern gaming. It took five years, early access and a regretful Google Stadia deal, but BG3 made it, and Larian is better for it. 

Looking back on the game’s lengthy journey, Larian Studios’ director of publishing Michael ‘Cromwelp’ Douse revealed that they hit the game’s release date in plain sight, and no one noticed. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 release date was hidden on a bottle of whiskey 

In a post on Twitter (or X, if you’re like that), Douse revealed that he hid the release date for Baldur’s Gate 3 on a bottle of Suntory Whiskey Toki and left it around. 

The publishing director showed an image of the bottle, adorned with waning marker scribbles stating: “Baldur’s Gate 3 Release Date on rear”. Five years went by and no one noticed. 

“5 years and a pandy ago I wrote the BG3 release date on this bottle of whisky and let it hang at the bar, and nobody found it,” Douse said. “I was drunk but it never leaked so in retrospect it’s funny and not a legal issue. Maybe I did it again? Who knows.”

Of course, we all know that this release date did eventually shift from Larian’s planned September 2023 release date. Back then, the approaching release of Bethesda’s Starfield was terrifying, and Larian wisely pushed its release date forward to not clash with what was still a massive game on release. In fact, this even led to one of the game’s endings releasing after launch. 

Right now, Larian Studios is working on early development of two new RPGs with the help of its brand-new storytelling department in Guildford, England. Perhaps Douse has stashed a release date somewhere else this time. Maybe Swen Vincke has the next game’s proposed release date tattooed somewhere. Who knows? 

Baldur’s Gate 3

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  Platform(s):
  macOS, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series X
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  Genre(s):
  Adventure, RPG, Strategy

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