Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most successful and critically acclaimed games of the last decade. The RPG won multiple awards and built a massive fanbase thanks to its storytelling, characters, and player freedom.
Video game adaptations have become a growing trend recently. HBO announced it’s working on a Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation that continues the story after the game’s events. The announcement triggered immediate backlash from the gaming community instead of excitement. In this article, we’ll explore what we know so far about the show and why fans already reject it.
HBO’s Announcement
HBO announced it’s developing a Baldur’s Gate adaptation with Craig Mazin, The Last of Us series co-creator, as the showrunner. Unlike The Last of Us, which retold the game’s story, this show will continue directly after Baldur’s Gate 3’s ending.
The series will feature both new characters and familiar faces from the game. HBO hasn’t revealed which characters will appear or who will play them. Chris Perkins, former head of story at Wizards of the Coast, will serve as a consultant to keep the show aligned with Dungeons & Dragons lore.
Mazin claimed he’s a devoted fan of the game and stated he put nearly 1,000 hours into Baldur’s Gate 3, even completing it on Honor Mode, the game’s most difficult setting. He called the project a dream come true and promised to bring the characters to life with respect and love.
Why the Fans Hate it
Fans rejected the announcement for multiple reasons. Craig Mazin’s work on The Last of Us season 2 raised concerns. The show’s first season scored 96% on Rotten Tomatoes with an 86% audience rating. Season 2 dropped to 37% from fans despite a 91% critics score. Many stated that Mazin changed and watered down aspects of the characters and story.
Another issue is Baldur’s Gate 3’s multiple endings and story branches. The show starts after the game’s ending, which means HBO has to pick one specific ending as canon. This contradicts the game’s core appeal, where player choice shapes the story. Whatever ending they choose will conflict with millions of personal playthroughs.
The main reason fans are angry isLarian Studios’ exclusion from the project. The developers who created Baldur’s Gate 3 have no involvement in the show. Larian spent years developing these characters and their stories. Fans see this as a disservice to the studio’s work. Larian’s publishing director, Michael Douse, expressed shock at the announcement and stated he wasn’t even aware the project was being developed.
Conclusion
The Baldur’s Gate 3 HBO adaptation announcement turned into a disaster. Fans immediately rejected the project instead of celebrating it.
Craig Mazin’s work on The Last of Us season 2 created doubts about his ability to adapt the game properly. Larian Studios’ exclusion remains the biggest problem. The developers spent years creating these characters and will have zero input on how the show portrays them.
Fans already distrust the project before production even starts. HBO needs to address these concerns if they want the show to succeed.