Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur’s Gate 3, has advised players against engaging with the game’s Early Access version due to an upcoming progress wipe.
The studio announced that progress made in the Early Access version, including Act 1, will not be transferrable to the full game upon its launch on August 3. As a result, purchasing the Early Access version at this point essentially functions as a pre-order for the game.
Recommendations from Larian Studios
In a recent community update, Larian Studios explicitly recommends that players refrain from purchasing the Early Access version of Baldur’s Gate 3 with the intention of experiencing its current content.
The studio cites the outdated state of the Early Access version and the significant differences between it and the final release as the primary reasons for this recommendation. Consequently, save files from the Early Access version are not compatible with the upcoming full game.
Despite the cautionary note, Larian Studios clarifies that the Early Access version of Baldur’s Gate 3 remains playable for those who have a specific desire to explore and document the state of the game for archival purposes. However, players should be aware that any progress made in Early Access will be nullified once the full game is released.
Bonus Content for Early Access Purchasers
If players do decide to purchase the Early Access version before the launch, they will still receive all the digital bonus items that come with the Digital Deluxe edition of Baldur’s Gate 3, such as dice skins, a song pack, digital OST, and an art book.
However, the 72-hour head-start feature, originally advertised as part of the Early Access version, has been removed due to the game’s launch being brought forward. PC players already have a month head start before other platforms, rendering the additional head-start unnecessary.
To ensure clarity, Larian Studios reiterates that Early Access saves from Baldur’s Gate 3 will not carry over to the full game. Therefore, players who have invested time in Early Access will have to bid farewell to their characters and embark on a fresh start once the game officially releases.
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