Video game adaptations are all the rage right now, and HBO is jumping on the bandwagon with a live-action series based on Baldur's Gate 3, one of the most celebrated games of the decade. But while the announcement sounds like a surefire hit, the project is already raising red flags. The biggest issue? The developer behind the game, Larian Studios, isn't involved, and the show's approach to the story could undermine what made the game so special.
A Sequel That Picks a Canon Ending
HBO has confirmed that the series will be a sequel to the events of Baldur's Gate 3, meaning it will have to choose one definitive outcome for the game's branching narrative. For a game built on player choice—where every decision shapes the story—this feels like a betrayal of the spirit of the game. Players who spent hundreds of hours crafting their own unique journey may feel alienated when the show picks a single canon path. Unlike other adaptations like Fallout, which set its story after a specific game, Baldur's Gate 3 offers countless variables, making this challenge exponentially harder.
Larian Studios Is Out of the Picture
Perhaps the most alarming detail is that Larian Studios, the team that poured nearly a decade into crafting Baldur's Gate 3, is not involved in the HBO series. Game director Swen Vincke confirmed that while showrunner Craig Mazin reached out for a chat, no writers from Larian are contributing. This is a stark contrast to successful adaptations like The Last of Us and Fallout, which worked closely with their original developers. Without Larian's creative oversight, fans worry the series will lack the depth and authenticity that made the game a masterpiece. As publishing director Michael Douse noted, the game's script is three times longer than all three Lord of the Rings novels combined—a level of detail that's hard to replicate without the original team.
Craig Mazin: The Right Choice?
Craig Mazin, known for Chernobyl and co-creating The Last of Us, is set to showrun the series. He claims to have put over 1,000 hours into Baldur's Gate 3, which is impressive, but his track record is mixed. The Last of Us Season 2 has faced backlash, and Neil Druckmann's departure for Season 3 raises questions. Moreover, while The Last of Us had a linear story to adapt, Baldur's Gate 3 requires Mazin to create original storylines from a game with infinite possibilities. That's a tall order, even for a seasoned writer.
For fans of the game, the lack of Larian's involvement is a dealbreaker. The studio's unique vision and dedication were key to the game's success, and without them, the series risks feeling like a generic fantasy show. HBO has a chance to course-correct by bringing Larian on board, but for now, the project seems to be repeating the mistakes of past adaptations that ignored the source material's creators.
If you're looking for other fantasy adaptations done right, check out our list of Fantasy Books With the Best Worldbuilding: Top 10 Ranked. And for more on video game adaptations, see our ranking of Top 10 Video Games Based on TV Shows.
