Minecraftis the best-selling video game of all time for a reason. The title’s unique crafting and building systems, combined withMinecraft’s beginner-friendly approach, create a place where gamers of any age can let their imaginations soar. The malleable nature ofMinecraft’s world has allowed for a variety of partnerships and crossovers between Microsoft and various film, TV, and gaming franchises. With 2023 featuring a ton of high-profile releases, developer Mojang could look to collaborate with any number of developers. However,Baldur’s Gate 3stands out above the rest, with its characters and setting making for a collaboration that just makes sense.
TheBaldur’s Gateseries is an extension ofDungeons and Dragons;Baldur’s Gate 3adaptsDungeons and Dragons 5e’sworld and rules to a video game setting. The title takes place nearly 100 years after the events ofBaldur’s Gate 2and will see players explore the Forgotten Realms yet again. The series' main enemies, the Illithids, are trying to invade the mortal realm, and players must thwart their plans while searching for the cure for an infection their character received in a previous conflict with the Illithids. With so much in common withMinecraft’sD&DDLC,Baldur’s Gate 3provides a natural and rather effortless crossover opportunity.
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Minecraft Has Already Laid the Foundation for a Baldur’s Gate 3 Crossover
Minecraftfirst released in 2009 on PC, before its alpha and beta versions resulted in a shift. The first full version of the game, officially titledMinecraft, was released in November 2011 and quickly took the gaming world by storm. Over the years,Minecrafthas continued to grow and evolve, receiving major updates as new console generations allowed for greater graphical fidelity and provided more power through whichMinecraft’s world could be built and expanded. In 2023, the title is still among gaming’s most popular, as a variety of crossovers and collaborations continue to bring fans of other series and genres to the world-class sandbox builder.
Mojang’s plans for 2023 already set the stage for a potentialBaldur’s Gate 3crossover, asMinecraft’s next major DLC is a collaboration withDungeons and Dragons. The DLC allows players to explore the Forgotten Realms,D&D’s official setting. Wizards of the Coast has revealed that the Candlekeep Library and Icewind Dale will both appear, and the reveal trailer showcases combat with various classic enemies. Following the release ofMinecraft’sDungeons and DragonsDLC, aBaldur’s Gate 3crossover not only makes sense but also would require very few original systems to create.
A Baldur’s Gate 3 Minecraft DLC Would Differ in a Few Key Areas
Despite being an extension of its world and systems,Baldur’s Gate3’s features a few key differences fromDungeons and Dragons 5e, as the role-playing game’s translation to video games requires some tweaks. Core characteristics, such as Alignments, are absent fromBaldur’s Gate 3, with player-characters' tendencies and interactions with NPCs shaped by their actions, similar to the systems inMass EffectandFallout 4. Environmental Hazards, such as electric pools of blood and burning patches of ground play a large part inBaldur’s Gate 3’s combat. These interactions and hazards are among the many features that could be used to quietly differentiateMinecraft’s possibleBaldur’s GateDLC from theD&Drelease.
Baldur’s Gate 3is currently in Early Access, and the timing for a crossover withMinecraftcouldn’t be better. Despite planning for a Spring 2023 release,Minecraft’sD&DDLC has yet to confirm a release date. This leaves the door wide open for the DLC to make a shift towardBaldur’s Gate 3’s unique features and locations. UntilMinecraft’s D&D DLC is officially confirmed for release fans of the massively-successful role-playing game can look forward toBaldur’s Gate 3entering full access early this fall.
Baldur’s Gate 3releases on July 20, 2025, for PC and September 6 for PS5.
