Developer Larian recently unveiled a shocker for fans eagerly awaiting the release of Baldur’s Gate 3: the game will not have a preload option. Given the game’s substantial size of approximately 122GB, this unusual choice means players will need to wait until the official release to download and install the game.
According to a Steam post from Larian, “Baldur’s Gate 3 will launch on August 3rd at 5 pm Gent time, or your non-Belgian timezone equivalent as shown above. There will be no pre-loading of the game before then.” This could lead to a potential rush on release day, possibly straining server capacity as players scramble to get their hands on the game.
All early-access players must reinstall the entire game. “The full release of the game weighs in at approximately 122 GB. Please note that your Early Access save games will not be compatible at launch; however, so much has changed that it’s really worth it to start afresh,” noted Larian.
Despite these hurdles, Larian is keen to ensure the game’s availability across platforms. Baldur’s Gate 3 will be compatible with the Steam Deck at launch, with the team aiming for the game to be verified by the game’s launch on Thursday, August 3. Moreover, it’s scheduled for release on PC this week and PS5 next month.
While the absence of a preload option may present challenges for players, Larian is optimistic that the comprehensive changes and enhancements introduced in the final release of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be worth the wait.
