HBO is continuing to grow its reputation as the home of prestige video game adaptations with the announcement of a Baldur’s Gate 3 TV series, simply titled Baldur’s Gate. Unsurprisingly, the news has sparked an immediate reaction among fans of the game, some raising concerns about the adaptation.
The game is a defining RPG for the modern era, and even won the 2023 Game of the Year award. Baldur’s Gate 3’s writing and commitment to Dungeons & Dragons have been heavily praised, and for many, the game feels untouchable. While the HBO adaptation has a talented name, this might not be enough to alleviate concern.
The Last Of Us’ Craig Mazin Is Bringing Baldur’s Gate 3 To HBO
As co-creator and showrunner of HBO’s The Last of Us, Craig Mazin helped deliver one of the most critically acclaimed video game adaptations ever produced. Hopefully recreate that magic, as Mazin is developing Baldur’s Gate 3 for HBO, and will also serve as the series’ showrunner.
Mazin’s name carries real weight in the gaming space. HBO’s The Last of Us earned widespread praise for respecting Naughty Dog’s source material while still making necessary structural changes for television. However, even The Last of Us did not arrive without resistance.
Before the show premiered in 2023, fans of the franchise started questioning if Mazin could preserve the feel of the game. Some worried about casting, others feared changes to the narrative. Many also expressed frustration that a beloved interactive experience was being “flattened” into a passive format.
Those concerns intensified when deviations from the game became plot points — especially with the happy ending the Last of Us writers gave Bill. However, the emotional nuance and character depth of the story increased with the adaptation. Baldur’s Gate 3 fans are already voicing similar concerns. This time, there may be heavier weight behind them.
Unlike The Last of Us’s linear format, Baldur’s Gate 3’s appeal lies in choice, reactivity, and role-playing freedom. These open-ended elements are a struggle to replicate for TV. The fear is not that Mazin lacks talent, but that no adaptation – no matter how well made – can capture what makes Baldur’s Gate 3 special.
However, fans should take solace in the fact that The Last of Us ultimately succeeded. The adaptation benefitted from creators explaining their vision, and maintaining close collaboration with the original developers.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Developers Have No Involvement In The Series
This is where one of the biggest sources of concern comes in. HBO’s Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation is not currently working with Larian Studios. That detail was publicly confirmed on X by Geoff Keighley, host of The Game Awards, who stated that Larian Studios is not currently involved in the project whatsoever.
However, this may very well change. CEO of Larian Studios, Swen Vincke, tweeted that Craig Mazin has been in touch with the studio, and that Vincke is optimistic about the project. He said, “I think [Mazin] truely is a big fan which gives me hope,” (via IGN) which should give fans some hope too.
Why Fans Are Worried About HBO’s Baldur’s Gate 3 Show
Fans’ biggest concern is canonization. Baldur’s Gate 3 famously allows wildly different outcomes, including the fate of companions like Shadowheart, Astarion, Karlach, and Lae’zel. The multitude of ending options are deeply personal to each gamer, as their outcomes were borne out of each decision made throughout their gaming journey.
Choosing one ending will be difficult to keep many fans happy. This is particularly challenging, considering the HBO adaptation is said to be a continuation of the game with the story picking up where Baldur’s Gate 3 ended.
Replacing the game’s actors is another pain point. Performances by Neil Newbon (Astarion) and Jennifer English (Shadowheart) are widely credited with elevating the game’s storytelling. Astarion is iconic,and many fans feel that only Newbon can provide the perfect portrayal of the character. To potentially replace him would be catastrophic.
Some fans are also worried about tonal dilution. Baldur’s Gate 3 balances absurd humor, body horror, romance, and philosophical introspection. There is skepticism that HBO could smooth those extremes into a more traditional fantasy drama.
One fan on X replied to a Discussing Film post stating that the adaptation “will make Game of Thrones season 8 seem good.” It’s a hyperbolic but telling expression of fan concerns.
All these initial reactions reveal a core anxiety that the HBO series may overwrite the deeply personal experience fans had creating their game.
HBO’s Baldur’s Gate 3 Already Faces A Lot Of Challenges
Based on the fans’ voiced concerns, HBO’s Baldur’s Gate series is navigating one of the toughest adaptation challenges imaginable from a production standpoint.
Choosing a jumping off point from after the game’s end is unavoidable. However, whichever ending option is chosen as the canonical start contradicts countless player stories. Any decision will feel exclusionary, even if handled with care. With the absence of Larian Studios, Mazin and HBO must demonstrate respect for the game’s themes without the creator’s insight.
Mazin is a huge fan of Baldur’s Gate 3. However, he was also a fan of The Last of Us game, and Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann was a major asset in creating that adaptation. That strength is missing from the HBO Baldur’s Gate 3 adaptation.
Then there’s the age-old concern of casting. While HBO could theoretically bring back original game actors, television contracts, scheduling, and union considerations make that unlikely. Replacing such recognizable performances risks alienating fans before the show even premieres.
Still, none of this makes failure inevitable. HBO excels at ambitious fantasy, and Mazin has proven his commitment to emotional authenticity. If the series can treat Baldur’s Gate 3 not as a checklist of lore, but as a meditation on choice, consequence, and identity, it may win skeptics over.
For now, though, fan worry feels justified. Adapting Baldur’s Gate 3 means confronting the limits of adaptation itself. Until HBO proves they understand why the game matters so deeply, fan concern will continue.
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
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Larian Studios
- Engine
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Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
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Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
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Full cross-platform play.
- Cross Save
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Full cross-platform progression.