Baldur's Gate 3, the critically acclaimed CRPG by Larian Studios, made a significant impact at The Game Awards 2023, held on December 7th. This Dungeons & Dragons-based game, which fully launched in August of the same year, has been a financial and critical success, redefining the turn-based CRPG genre for both new and seasoned gamers.
Baldur's Gate 3 won 5 awards at The Game Awards 2023, including Game of the Year, Best Role Playing Game, Best Performance (Neil Newborn for Astarion), Best Multiplayer Game, Best Community Support, and Player's Voice.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | The Game Awards 2023 |
| Date | December 7, 2023 |
| Location | The Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, CA |
| Host | Geoff Keighley |
| Game | Baldur's Gate 3 |
| Developer | Larian Studios |
| Awards | Best RPG, Best Performance, Best Multiplayer, Best Community Support, Player's Voice |
| Nominations | Best Studio/Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Score/Soundtrack |
Awards and Recognition At The Game Awards 2023, Baldur's Gate 3 emerged as the Game of the Year (GOTY), triumphing over other top-rated nominees. This victory was not just a win for the game but a testament to its place in gaming history. The game also won in several other categories, including Best Role Playing Game, Best Performance (awarded to Neil Newborn for voicing Astarion), Best Multiplayer Game, Best Community Support, and Player's Voice. These awards highlight the game's diverse strengths, from its engaging gameplay and narrative to its community engagement and technical achievements.
Event Highlights The Game Awards 2023, hosted by Geoff Keighley at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, CA, was a nearly 3-hour event streamed via YouTube. It featured not only the awards ceremony but also announcements and teasers for upcoming games. The highlight of the event was the announcement of Baldur's Gate 3 as the GOTY, which was met with rousing applause. Swen Vincke, CEO of Larian Studios, accepted the award in his trademark plate armor, a nod to his favorite D&D character class, the Paladin.
Team Dedication and Challenges In his acceptance speech, Vincke highlighted the dedication and hard work of the Larian Studios team, who spent six years developing Baldur's Gate 3, often under challenging circumstances, including the COVID-19 pandemic. He dedicated the award to team members who passed away during the game's development, particularly Jim, the lead cinematic artist.
Limited Speech Time Despite the game's multiple wins, the Larian team had limited time for acceptance speeches, which was a point of contention among some fans. The short duration meant that the team couldn't fully express their gratitude or even mention that Baldur's Gate 3 was now available for Xbox Series S and X.