Baldur’s Gate 3 game director Swen Vincke surprised fans of the Dungeons & Dragons RPG when he announced that the game would not receive any expansions and that Larian Studios would not immediately start working on Baldur’s Gate 4. Despite the game’s immense success, this decision deviated from expectations. Similarly, Nintendo confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would also not receive any expansions.
While these decisions may seem puzzling at first, viewing these games as complete masterpieces helps rationalize them. Both games offer extensive post-launch support and present rich, immersive experiences that don’t necessarily require additional content.
A Complete Work
Vincke explained to IGN that Larian Studios had initially considered creating DLC for Baldur’s Gate 3 but found limitations within the D&D 5th edition framework. Their passion instead lay with two other projects, leading them to decide against a large expansion or sequel for the game. A similar sentiment was expressed by Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma regarding Tears of the Kingdom, stating that they felt they had fully explored the game’s possibilities and were excited to create a new experience in the next Zelda installment.
Both Baldur’s Gate 3 and Tears of the Kingdom stand as complete experiences, offering intricate narratives, dynamic gameplay, and memorable characters. While more content would be welcome, the games already provide substantial replay value, allowing players to explore different paths and choices.
Despite no planned expansions, Larian Studios has continued to support Baldur’s Gate 3 with post-launch updates, introducing new content and features to enhance the player experience. This commitment to improvement showcases the studio’s dedication to their game.
While it’s natural to desire more content for popular games like Tears of the Kingdom and Baldur’s Gate 3, recognizing them as complete works allows us to appreciate their impact on the gaming industry. Embracing the idea of developers exploring new projects enables the creation of fresh, captivating experiences for players.