Baldur’s Gate 3 Physical Copies Cost More, Yet Publisher Calls It Worth It
Over the last week, it feels like the industry has collectively decided that physical game releases are on borrowed time. First, the news around Grand Theft Auto 6 pointed to no boxed version, sparking fears that more publishers could follow. Then Sony confirmed it will begin phasing out physical releases on PlayStation platforms, with the process targeted to be completed by January 2028.
Since that announcement, the reaction has been largely negative—mostly from players who still want discs for collecting, preservation, and resale. Still, it hasn’t only been consumers voicing frustration. Larian’s publishing leadership has also weighed in, adding another high-profile voice to the debate.
Larian Publishing Head Says The Studio’s Next PlayStation Physical Release Is Likely Off The Table
If you’re catching up, Baldur’s Gate 3 originally launched as a digital-only title. Later, it received a physical release through a Deluxe Edition package, which currently runs for roughly $80 and includes the complete game along with patches on the disc.
That Deluxe package also bundles additional goodies: merch plus DLC bonus content. And while that $80 price tag might sound steep, the comparison being made in this discussion is that it’s the same cost as the digital-only Grand Theft Auto 6 version—assuming you’re looking at the non-add-on tier of GTA 6’s Ultimate Edition.
Quick facts
- Baldur’s Gate 3 started as a digital-only release before receiving a physical Deluxe Edition.
- The Deluxe Edition is priced around $80 and includes the full game with patches on the disc.
- The physical package also includes merch and DLC bonus content.
- Larian publishing head Michael Douse says the situation around physical media is “genuinely heartbreaking.”
- Douse wants Sony to let collectors choose disc manufacturing via licensing.
- Larian’s next games may not reach PlayStation physical release status before January 2028.
- Xbox’s next console is rumored to be digital-only, which could further limit options for physical releases.
Larian publishing head Michael Douse was among the figures publicly mourning the likely end of physical releases on PlayStation. In his comments, he framed the change as both a personal and industry-wide loss for people who care about tangible media.
“Genuinely heartbreaking. This was both my pride AND quite literally joy,” he said. He also acknowledged the tradeoffs—calling out that making physical copies can cost “silly money,” and noting that it’s aimed at a niche crowd—before emphasizing that it’s still “f**king cool” and has genuinely made people happy.
Douse added that he’d like Sony to license a company to manufacture discs as an optional path for collectors. His core point is that whenever digital exists, there will always be a meaningful audience looking for something physical.
It’s also not hard to see why the Deluxe Edition cost what it did. But that disc run arrived only after Baldur’s Gate 3 had already proven it was a hit, meaning plenty of buyers were likely picking it up a second time—an outcome that would generally help a studio recoup the effort and expense of producing a physical run.
He isn’t the only one reminiscing about the joys of physical ownership. The discussion also notes how easy it is to share a copy in the real world, describing the experience of handing around a boxed copy and encouraging friends and family to try the game.
What this could mean for Larian’s next releases
Even so, the expectation is that Larian probably won’t be able to repeat the same physical approach for future projects, including Divinity. The argument is that if anything is going to make it to shelves, it would need to happen before January 2028—yet the timeline feels unlikely since, at the moment, only a reveal cinematic has been shown.
On top of PlayStation’s shift away from physical releases, there’s another potential constraint: rumors have suggested Xbox’s next console could also be digital-only. If that rumor holds up, it would further squeeze the options available to Larian for distributing future games in disc form.
