Larian Studios’ CRPGs have always touted a high-level of inclusivity, not just in the spattering of NPCs found within their worlds, but also in the power they give to the player to be themselves. Of course, no game in the studio’s library of releases does this better than Baldur’s Gate 3, a game that lets you truly be anything you want to be.
Speaking to The Gamer, BG3 acting director Aliona Baranova, who also is an actor in the game as well as others, explained that Larian’s work on inclusivity wasn’t just a fantastic addition to the game for fans, but it also helped making the game easier as well.
Baranova explained that “inclusion can always be improved”, whether that’s in terms of gender identity in games or even offering additional accessibility options to make sure more fans can play games. “I think Baldur’s Gate 3 did very, very well,” they explained, “and it sold very well”.
Baranova explained that Larian also committed to re-recording the entirety of Baldur’s Gate 3 with gender neutral pronouns in place of gendered ones. While much of the dialogue was already recorded for male and female pronouns, Larian brought every actor back to make sure gender neutral players were accompanied for.
“I feel like it was a game-changer when Larian decided that every single line that mentions pronouns would be recorded with the they/them option,” Baranova said. “It did feel like a game-changer. A brilliant one. We’d already started recording, and we already had a lot of lines down with just he and she pronouns, but we brought people back in to make sure, even if it was just one line, to say they/them.”
In a previous interview, Karlach actor Samantha Beart revealed that numerous queer storylines are already being cut from major releases in the wake of heavy backlash from right-wing groups and personalities. However, when a game releases and is proven to be popular, such as Baldur’s Gate 3, that backlash is instantly minimised by those same personalities as they twist its success in a bid to bolster their talking points.
Baranova said, “developers take note”, of Baldur’s Gate 3’s massive success, explaining that studios can “take those risks, quote-unquote, and reap the rewards, if you do it wholeheartedly.” She continued: “Do it with a good script, with good performances and direction, and be passionate about it.”
With the United States government now using video games as propaganda on social media, it’s more important than ever for queer voices in media to be heard. Larian Studios is currently working on two new projects as the fourth BG game jumps over to a new studio, and we currently have no idea what those games could actually be. However, we should expect the same level of expert inclusivity whenever one of the studios’ next projects actually releases but, as Baranova says, it can always be improved.
