Can you Preload Baldur’s Gate 3?
Share this article...
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, comes Baldur’s Gate 3 from Larian Studios. Fans of the tabletop game will want to dive right into the world of the Forgotten Realms as soon as possible.
The full game of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be available immediately at its start time, for all the magic, combat, and customization. Preloading the game will let you jump in as soon as the game is available, but can it be done?
Can you preload Baldur’s Gate 3? We’re here to let you know.
Is it possible to preload Baldur’s Gate 3?
No, unfortunately, it isn’t possible to preload Baldur’s Gate 3 onto your desired platform. This was confirmed in Community Update #22 for the game on Steam. You will need to wait until the game’s official launch on August 3rd to be able to download the game, making pre-loading of the game impossible. Whether this is due to a limitation of Steam is unknown.
This also means you’re in for a long download. Baldur’s Gate 3 comes in at a huge 122 GB, meaning many players will have to wait for a while just for the game to fully install on their PCs or another device. There has been confusion and unhappy responses to this news, as a game of this size will take a while to download, and fans want to be able to begin their playthrough as soon as they can. Those with unreliable internet connections will have a tough time getting in.
No timezone will be able to preload the game earlier, so the launch timing for the full release of the game remains simultaneous for all areas.
This is also true for any version of the game you have, including:
- Base Game Edition
- Digital Deluxe Edition
- Collector’s Edition
None of these will be able to preload Baldur’s Gate 3.
Is Early Access for Baldur’s Gate 3 getting a preload?
No, if you have the early access version of Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll still need to do a full reinstall. Larian Studios said that it’s so different from the full release, it’s worth reinstalling.
This is a very big game, and a big download, and the early access version doesn’t have many similar bytes, as confirmed by Larian Studio’s Swen Vincke in an interview with PC Gamer. This makes preloading through early access impossible.
It looks like fans will just have to wait until launch day to download the full version of the game.
FAQs
Can I preload Baldur’s Gate 3 onto my device?
No, Baldur’s Gate 3 cannot be preloaded onto any platform. You will have to wait until release day to download the game.
Is early access equivalent to preloading?
No, the early access version of the game is too different from the full release that you will need to reinstall the full game. No one will get a head start into the game.
