Baldur's Gate 3 has experienced a significant surge in player numbers on Steam following the release of the highly anticipated Patch 8. This update has positioned developer Larian Studios well to shift their focus towards their next major project.

Patch 8, released last week, introduced 12 new subclasses and a new photo mode to Baldur's Gate 3. The addition of these features led to a notable increase in player engagement, with fans eager to explore the new content. Over the weekend, the game reached a concurrent player peak of 169,267 on Steam—an impressive milestone for a single-player focused RPG in its second year. While Steam makes these numbers public, Sony and Microsoft do not disclose player counts for PlayStation and Xbox.

Reflecting on Patch 8's impact, Larian's CEO Swen Vincke expressed optimism about the game's future on Twitter. He attributed the continued success not only to the patch but also to the thriving mod support, which he believes will keep the game popular for a considerable time. This success, Vincke noted, allows Larian to dedicate more resources to their next big project. "We've got big shoes to fill," he remarked, emphasizing the challenge ahead.

Vincke also shared his satisfaction with Patch 8, highlighting the substantial development effort that went into it and the positive reception it received. He reiterated the importance of mod support in sustaining player interest and freeing up resources for new endeavors.

Patch 8 marks the final major update for Baldur's Gate 3, concluding a remarkable period for Larian. Since its launch in 2023, the game has received critical acclaim and achieved significant commercial success, continuing to sell well into 2025.

Larian has surprised the gaming community by announcing their departure from Baldur's Gate 3 and the Dungeons & Dragons universe to work on a new, undisclosed project. They have imposed a media blackout to concentrate on this mystery game, which they teased previously.

Meanwhile, D&D's parent company, Hasbro, has hinted at continuing the Baldur's Gate series. Speaking at the Game Developers Conference, Dan Ayoub, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, revealed that there is significant interest in the franchise following Larian's exit. Ayoub mentioned that Hasbro is formulating plans for the future and teased upcoming announcements. While he did not specify whether these plans include a new Baldur's Gate game or another type of project, such as a crossover with Magic: The Gathering, he expressed a desire for a Baldur's Gate 4, acknowledging that it would require time and careful consideration.

Ayoub emphasized a measured approach, indicating that Hasbro is not rushing into decisions. He suggested that the company is exploring various options and is preparing to share more details soon, without over-promising on the timeline.