The Baldur’s Gate 3 release date (August 2023) was cleverly concealed on a whiskey bottle by Larian Studios’ publishing director five years ago. Baldur’s Gate 3 emerged as one of the most successful games of 2023, with its development journey taking considerable time, including an early access phase starting in 2020.

Upon its release, Baldur’s Gate 3 received accolades from both players and critics, its popularity rapidly increasing thereafter. The game began in late 2016 and was officially announced in 2019 before entering Early Access in October 2020. It launched in August 2023 after almost seven years of development, employing the Divinity 4.0 engine and adhering to Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, which led to a rich turn-based combat system, engaging storytelling, and cooperative multiplayer, culminating in over 10 million copies sold.

Notably, without any leaks, Douse disclosed that the release date was scribbled on a whiskey bottle at a bar. In his own words, “In retrospect, it’s funny and not a legal issue.” After revealing this anecdote, he teased that he might have secret notes hidden for the next project.

Two years after the game’s release, a significant update, Patch 8, was launched in April 2025, adding 12 fresh subclasses, a Photo Mode, and full cross-play support across various platforms, ensuring players could continue to enjoy the critically acclaimed RPG.