Neil Newbon, the actor who portrayed Astarion inBaldur’s Gate 3, has gone on record as saying that he’s glad that its developer, Larian Studios, isn’t making a sequel to the game. While this might surprise fans of the character andBaldur’s Gate 3in general, there’s a good reason for his feelings on the matter.
Baldur’s Gate 3has been one of the most celebrated games in recent history, giving players a massiveD&Dexperience that can be played alone or with friends. Larian Studios spent nearly a decade working on the title, and it shows, as the game can be replayed numerous times and takes tons of possibilities into account, ensuring that multiple playthroughs have variations.
With that in mind, it might surprise fans to learn that the person who performed as Astarion is glad thatLarian Studios isn’t returning for aBaldur’s Gatesequel. In an interview between Radio Times Gaming’sArcade Hang showand Neil Newbon, the actor explained that he was very happy to hear that Larian was sticking to its convictions and declined to work on a sequel. Newbon says that Larian’s “heart wasn’t in doing another game, or even DLC” as the team was “exhausted, they were tired, they were happy… but it was like ‘that’s done now.'” He added that he felt the development studio made “absolutely the right call” in choosing to move on to different projects and away fromBaldur’s Gate.
Larian Moves on, but Newbon Doesn’t Want to Be Done With Astarion
With that said, theaward-winning Astarion actorwould like to return as his character, potentially even in a live-action performance. Newbon noted that he was grateful to be included in the project in the first place, and priased the developers, director, and his fellow cast members. He also noted that he hopes that even if the original developer isn’t helming the project, that the writing team might return to pen the sequel, as a “carbon cutout” ofBaldur’s Gate 3wouldn’t be ideal.
While players might have liked to have seen a continuing stream ofBaldur’s Gategames or DLC from Larian Studios, it’s easy to see Larian’s point of view, especially following Newbon’s comments. Soulless cash-grab sequels and rushed projects are frequently criticized by gamers, and while Larian wasn’t responsible for priorBaldur’s Gategames, nobody wants to see the franchise’s latest effort tarnished by a follow-up the team isn’t passionate about. Hasbro will have to carefully consider how tocreate a sequel toBaldur’s Gate 3that can follow in its footsteps while also remaining innovative and exciting for players. With any luck, it’s successful in doing so, and fans get to see their favorite characters again for a new adventure.
