Baldur's Gate 3 Switch 2 Port Unlikely, Says Larian

Nintendo Switch 2 owners looking forward to playing Baldur's Gate 3 on the new console face disappointing news. Larian Studios, the developer behind the award-winning RPG, has indicated that a port is not currently planned. The studio cites external factors rather than technical limitations as the primary barrier.

During a recent community Q&A, leadership from Larian Studios provided clarity on the situation. While the team expressed enthusiasm for the Nintendo platform, they confirmed that the decision to port the game lies with other entities. This revelation suggests that legal or licensing hurdles, rather than development capacity, are preventing the game's arrival on the handheld console.

In a Reddit AMA session, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vicke responded to questions regarding the possibility of Baldur's Gate 3 arriving on the Switch 2. Vicke's response was direct but cryptic, noting that while the team would have loved to bring the title to the system, 'it wasn't our decision to make.' This statement implies that the choice to develop or publish a Switch 2 version rests with rights holders or platform holders.

The ambiguity of Vicke's comment has led to speculation regarding who is blocking the port. The two primary entities involved are:

• Nintendo: The platform holder for the potential target hardware.
• Wizards of the Coast: The owner of the Dungeons and Dragons IP upon which the game is based.

Currently, there is no official confirmation from either party regarding their stance on a potential port.

Rumors have circulated regarding a potentially strained relationship between Larian Studios and Wizards of the Coast. If true, this friction could be a significant factor in the lack of movement on a Switch 2 version of the game. Despite these rumors, Larian continues to maintain a presence on Nintendo hardware.

Larian Studios' Technical Director, Bert van Semmertier, offered a contrasting perspective on the studio's relationship with Nintendo. In a separate response during the AMA, van Semmertier revealed that the studio had just released Divinity: Original Sin 2 on the Switch 2. He emphasized that the team 'love[s] the platform' and will 'certainly consider Switch 2 for the next Divinity game.' This confirms that the studio possesses the technical capability to port games to the system, leaving licensing as the likely hurdle for Baldur's Gate 3.

Even if rights holders were to approve a Switch 2 port, Larian Studios would likely not be the developer handling the work. The studio announced last year that it has effectively moved on from Baldur's Gate 3 regarding major development. They stated they would no longer develop major content updates or expansions for the title.

Furthermore, Larian confirmed they will not be working on a sequel to the RPG. This shift in focus means that if a Switch 2 version were to materialize, it would likely need to be developed by a third-party studio hired by Wizards of the Coast. As of now, there has been no indication that such a project is underway.

While the technical director remains optimistic about the Switch 2 as a platform for future Larian Studios titles like Divinity, Baldur's Gate 3 appears to be a closed case for the developer. The combination of the studio's pivot to new projects and the unclear stance of rights holders suggests that players should not expect the RPG on Nintendo's next-generation handheld anytime soon.