Baldur's Gate 3 Director Drops Disappointing Switch 2 Update

3 days ago 8

Shadowheart covered in mud after a BG3 battle

Ben Brosofsky has been writing for Screen Rant since 2022 and editing since 2024. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor's in Cinema & Media Arts. Writing serves as a much-needed distraction from tackling a backlog of Steam games that will never be surmounted.

Baldur's Gate 3 and the Switch 2 seem like a match made in heaven, but the latest update from Larian Studios director Swen Vincke isn't very promising. While the game never made it to the original Switch, where it would have proven a challenge for the aging hardware, the possibility of a Switch 2 port has been a major topic of discussion among fans.

In an Ask Me Anything on Reddit, Vincke responded to a query about Baldur's Gate 3 on the Switch 2 by confirming that a port isn't happening. Apparently, Larian "would have loved to," but the decision didn't fall to the studio. That being said, the next Divinity game might fare better, as technical director Bert Van Semmertier noted that Larian will "certainly consider" a Switch 2 port for the upcoming title.

Baldur's Gate 3 Isn't Coming To Switch 2

Larian Doesn't Get To Decide

Astarion looking distressed in Baldur's Gate 3.

Vincke doesn't clarify where the hang-up on a Switch 2 port of Baldur's Gate 3 lies, but if it's out of Larian's hands, the D&D license holders at Hasbro and the Wizards of the Coast seem like the probable culprit. It's hard to imagine why they would pass on the opportunity for a potentially lucrative port, however.

There's always a chance that the situation could change in the future, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 received a Switch 2 version in December, over eight years after its initial release. At the moment, however, it doesn't seem like something to count on. Even if the mysterious hang-up behind a release gets resolved, Larian's interest in a port might wane as the team gets deeper into the development of Divinity.

Handheld Players Have Some Alternatives

Worlds Beyond Baldur's Gate 3

For now, those looking to play Baldur's Gate 3 on the go can always turn to the Steam Deck. The game's performance on the handheld is still far from ideal, especially in Act 3, but it's a perfectly playable portable option.

Switch 2 owners, meanwhile, can check out other CRPGs like Divinity: Original Sin 2, the original Baldur's Gate, or the (admittedly compromised) Switch ports of the Pillars of Eternity games. Baldur's Gate 3 represents a high standard for the genre, but it's far from the only fantastic game of its nature.

Even if Baldur's Gate 3 never comes to the system, an eventual port of Divinity could be a nice consolation prize. Van Semmertier notes elsewhere in the Reddit thread that scalability of the game is a priority, which bodes well for the possible Switch 2 port. Just don't expect to see Astarion or Shadowheart on the platform any time soon.