The concept of post-launch support for video games has been well established for generations now, but some developers manage to go above and beyond all expectations.

Numerous examples come to mind. CD Projekt Red’s support for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was incredibly impressive, topped off by a freely upgradable, much improved PS5 Complete Edition almost a decade later.

Circumstances surrounding Cyberpunk 2077 were obviously much more complicated, but that’s one where numerous large-scale updates ended up transforming the game into something truly special (at least, in my opinion).

Even right now, I’m looking at ongoing support for titles like Monster Hunter Wilds and Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and I’m blown away by how much stuff is being added on a regular basis. But they’re a slightly different story, straying into live service territory; they’re designed to be built upon over time.

And to me, that’s what makes Baldur’s Gate 3 an outstanding example of what can be achieved when a development team is fully committed to making a game as good as it can possibly be.

This is a primarily single-player, story and character-driven, tabletop-based RPG, and Larian Studios’ support has been shockingly on-point ever since the title’s full release in 2023.

Earlier this week, the developer dropped Patch 8, and confirmed that it would be the game’s last major update. I was a bit sad when that realisation hit, but then it’s near impossible to be disappointed in the longevity that Baldur’s Gate 3 has been given.

My perception is that Larian never had to commit so much time and effort to the game. Granted, it was wonky at launch and those original updates were necessary from a technical standpoint, but flash forward to eight massive content-fueled updates later, and it’s crazy to think about just how much an already Game of the Year-worthy RPG has been improved.

Speaking of which, I gave Baldur’s Gate 3 my own personal Game of the Year award back in 2023 — alongside several other members of staff here on Push Square — but that wasn’t even its final form. What I thought was a genuine 10/10 experience back then is now significantly better.

And that’s not down to an enhanced re-release or paid DLC — it’s thanks to a series of totally free updates that have expanded the game in brilliantly meaningful ways, while also refining the existing adventure across the board.

The fact that we got an entire epilogue, complete with real character development spread across reams of new, fully voiced script, months after the game’s release still blows me away.

More cynical onlookers might say that this kind of thing should have been included from the beginning, that Baldur’s Gate 3 was initially rushed out the door — but again, I thought the base release was utterly excellent from the start. Larian could have quite easily just polished up those early technical hiccups and moved on; its RPG still would have been drowning in perfect review scores and Game of the Year awards.

The aforementioned Patch 8 is perhaps the best example of all. Full cross-play functionality? An in-depth, feature-rich photo mode? Two additions that make total sense seeing as they’re commonplace in other games these days, but then Larian also decided to throw in 12 new subclasses — one for every existing character class.

This is the sort of gameplay branching that you’d expect from a major expansion, but no, the subclasses are just casually bundled into the title’s final update. The ideal excuse to start yet another run of a 100-hour fantasy epic that simply never seems to outstay its welcome.

At this point, I’ve ran out of superlatives for Baldur’s Gate 3; I still struggle to think of how it can be topped from a pure role-playing perspective, and it’ll rightfully be used as the genre’s measuring stick for years to come.

As it turns out, it is possible to improve upon perfection.

Do you agree with Rob’s assessment of Baldur’s Gate 3, now that Larian Studios is done with major updates? Proudly exclaim how many hours you’ve spent playing this peerless RPG in the comments section below.