HBO Will Continue Baldur’s Gate 3 — But Without Larian and With a “Canonical” Ending Fans Never Had

HBO has begun development on a TV series based on Baldur's Gate 3, which will be a direct continuation of the game’s events rather than a retelling. The project is being led by Craig Mazin, co-creator of The Last of Us series. Production is handled by Hasbro Entertainment in collaboration with Wizards of the Coast.

Unlike The Last of Us, the new series will not adapt a familiar storyline. Instead, the narrative will begin immediately after the ending of Baldur’s Gate 3 and focus on the consequences of the choices made in the game. The show will feature both new characters and familiar BG3 heroes — now immensely powerful figures capable of influencing the fates of others, for better or worse.

This is where the biggest risk lies. Baldur’s Gate 3 is a deeply non-linear game, where every player experienced a different ending. For some, Karlach survived — for others, she burned out or returned to Avernus. Some players elevated Astarion into an ascended vampire, while others stopped him from crossing that line. The destinies of Lae’zel, Shadowheart, Gale, and even the player character themselves can vary drastically from one playthrough to another.

A television series will inevitably choose one “canonical” version of events — a decision that will automatically clash with the personal stories many fans spent dozens or even hundreds of hours living through. For part of the audience, this may become the most controversial aspect of the adaptation: continuing a story that, for each player, ended differently.

Mazin joined the project as a fan himself. He completed Baldur’s Gate 3 on Honor Mode, logged hundreds of hours in the game, and has spent years running Dungeons & Dragons campaigns as a Dungeon Master. According to him, the series is envisioned as a long-term project within the Forgotten Realms and is not tied to the development of a new game — giving the creators freedom in choosing the direction of the story.

However, shortly after the announcement, an important detail surfaced. It was [url=https://x.com/geoffkeighley/status/2019563522339082576]shared[/url

] by journalist and The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley.

This means the script and narrative direction are entirely in the hands of HBO, Hasbro, and Mazin’s team, with consultation from Wizards of the Coast. For some fans, this is a worrying signal — it was Larian who defined the tone, character writing, and emotional depth of BG3. On the other hand, the absence of direct involvement from the game’s developers gives the showrunners freedom to establish a clear canon and build a coherent storyline — even if that comes at the cost of controversy.

Are you ready to accept an “official” ending for Baldur’s Gate 3 — even if it contradicts your own playthrough? Or are stories like this better left uncontinued outside the game itself? How critical is Larian’s absence for you — or are you willing to trust HBO and Craig Mazin?