The Panel from Hell details new additions for the final edition of Baldur’s Gate 3, including some disturbing new options

If you haven’t seen it by now, Larian Studios’ massive turn-based RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 is fixin’ to get into some odd new territory.

Well

So we’re just going to assume you haven’t already seen all of the stuff that spun out of the Baldur’s Gate 3 press/fan event dubbed the Panel from Hell. If you’re reading this far, chances are you remain unaware of a very dark new character option, as well as a twisted new romantic possibility that the title will contain. But before we get to the latter, the former is interesting to say the least.

Called Dark Urge, the new character is officially designated as a hero, though he or she isn’t really all that good. Unlike the other heroes, Dark Urge can literally be anyone, which fans will create from the ground up. And as for that name, well Dark Urge is kinda/sorta possessed by an evil force that presses them to kill in horrendous ways. One of the biggest parts of playing as a Dark Urge character will be either giving in to this voice in your head, or trying to resist it.

Past that, the Panel from Hell also dove into the latest villain reveal. That would be a shapeshifter out for blood named Orin the Red, played by actress Maggie Robertson. From the sound of things, she’s a vicious killer who wants to create chaos in the Gate, and paint it with the loveliest shade of crimson.

Got all of that? Well there was plenty more, like the announcement of a pile of new customization options for building your own Baldur’s Gate hero. Included in that lot will be options for:

• New skin options like freckles, vitiligo, scars
• New tattoo designs
• Heterochromia
• Lip makeup customization
• Accessories like earrings and piercings
• Horn color customization for Tieflings

As for that romance…

Along with a trailer that gets into the game’s romance options, Larian talked about a new twist on one of them. While the video doesn’t really show much of it, centering instead on more typical (albeit mature looking) stuff, you can apparently engage in… relations with a Druid who’s shifted into a bear. Yeah.

Why you’d want to do that, I have no clue, but Larian is all kinds of thrilled over the prospect.

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers ample opportunities for romance with the characters you’ll grow closest with, and no two relationships follow the same formula. Emotional intimacy with one party member may slowly bud into mutual physical desire with one party member, while a relationship that begins with a night of post-Goblin-slaughtering passion could also blossom into something vulnerable and sweet, given proper care.

Larian Studios press release

Alright so now that we’re past that somewhat uncomfortable bit of news, we can let you know that Baldur’s Gate 3 is heading to its final form on the PC, and full release on the PS5 this fall. You can expect it for the former on August 3rd, and the latter on September 6th.