Larian knows its audience, promises 'improved smooches' in Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3

It was meant to be.

(Image credit: Future)

Baldur's Gate 3 is a very horny RPG, as well as being broadly brilliant, and Larian knows exactly what its players want: smooching. Patch 6, dropping next week, will give the horny romantics something to get excited about in the form of "improved smooches", along with some other additions. 

In a tease on Twitter, the BG3 account shows off a tender moment between burly Druid Halsin and thirsty vampire Astarion, and the response has been predictably enthusiastic. The little forehead kiss at the end? Flawless. It's also a very Halsin thing to do, given that he's a protective bear. 

I'm just sad that, in my current playthrough, I'm a psychotic dragon lad who is too busy doing murders to smooch anyone. I guess I'll save the romance for my next one. 

On top of the improved smooches, Larian also teased new camp idle animations, new legendary actions in Honour mode and more bug fixes. "It's a hefty one," according to a follow-up tweet, and full patch notes will be released soon. 

Despite being a largely singleplayer game, and one that launched six months ago, Baldur's Gate 3 remains one of Steam's most played games. The fact that it's great, and that it encourages multiple playthroughs, has no doubt contributed to this, but Larian's stewardship is likely an equally important contributing factor. It's rare for any game that isn't a live service affair to get this much constant attention from its developer, and every patch seems to add meaningful improvements and additions. 

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for an expansion, but even without one I suspect I'll be playing BG3 for a long damn time. 

Fraser Brown
Online Editor

Fraser is the UK online editor and has actually met The Internet in person. With over a decade of experience, he's been around the block a few times, serving as a freelancer, news editor and prolific reviewer. Strategy games have been a 30-year-long obsession, from tiny RTSs to sprawling political sims, and he never turns down the chance to rave about Total War or Crusader Kings. He's also been known to set up shop in the latest MMO and likes to wind down with an endlessly deep, systemic RPG. These days, when he's not editing, he can usually be found writing features that are 1,000 words too long or talking about his dog. 

Read more
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3's shows off its upcoming photo mode by going haywire with memes
Gale, a wizard from Baldur's Gate 3, looks very bloodied and very sad at the player while a celestial midnight blooms behind his depressed mug.
Baldur's Gate 3's stress test update fixes heartbreaking bug that wiped out Honour Mode runs at the last possible moment
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 stress test is now live for real
An Oathbreaker Paladin restoring their Oath in Baldur's Gate 3.
Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8 is so big, it needed its own patch before it even released, and we're one step closer to a Permanent Booming Blade Economy
Astarion, after being asked whether he'd like a kiss, winces in the opposite of anticipation in Baldur's Gate 3.
Hasbro will be ready to share news about the future of Baldur's Gate 'in pretty short order'
Baldur's Gate 3 Gale romance - Gale sacrificing himself
Despite the big Baldur's Gate 3 update in the works, Larian says its 'full attention' is now focused on its next game
Latest in Baldur's Gate
Minthara BG3 looking upset
Another round of Baldur's Gate 3 unearthing reveals Minthara can end up living in a sewer, an unused beach ending, and more
Gale, a wizard from Baldur's Gate 3, looks very bloodied and very sad at the player while a celestial midnight blooms behind his depressed mug.
Baldur's Gate 3's stress test update fixes heartbreaking bug that wiped out Honour Mode runs at the last possible moment
Baldur's Gate 3 player character made to resemble Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher.
Wait a minute, Geralt of Rivia actor Doug Cockle was in Baldur's Gate 3 this whole time
Half Orc wearing rare Bhaalist Armor in Baldur's Gate 3 standing in front of Astarion and Karlach
It turns out you can get Baldur's Gate 3's best assassin armor without killing a baby angel elephant and joining a cult, all you have to do is pickpocket a ghost
Gale, a wizard from Baldur's Gate 3, looks very bloodied and very sad at the player while a celestial midnight blooms behind his depressed mug.
Baldur's Gate 3's stress test update has, mercifully, made one of its new OP cantrips halfway balanced again—but it's really still quite good
Withers Big Naturals mod image - Withers with big naturals
Sure, why not, here's a guy beating Baldur's Gate 3 without a race or class at all
Latest in News
Assassin's Creed Shadows immersive mode - Naoe holding a tanto in her hand as two guards fall to the ground behind her.
Assassin's Creed Shadows' first hotfix addresses stability issues and a photo mode crash
A close-up of a scared young girl's face as she stumbles through the woods, a crown of twigs and flowers upon her head.
CD Projekt says it's not using generative AI on The Witcher 4 because it's 'quite tricky when it comes to legal IP ownership'
A plastic duck dressed like a circus weightlifter
The 5th highest-rated game on Steam in 2022 is back with a multiplayer sequel
A still from a video announcement of Game Informer's return, featuring the magazine's Halo 2 issue.
Game Informer is back from the dead: 'The whole team has returned'
An April Fool's Day Palworld game concept about dating Pals
From Palworld movies to Palworld TV shows: 'Everyone under the sun pitched us every idea you can imagine,' says Pocketpair's communications director
Ciri in The Witcher 4
The Witcher 4 won't be out until sometime in 2027 at the soonest, CD Projekt says