Larian Studios Forums Baldur's Gate III Baldur's Gate III - General A Question about Sexual Content in BG III

So, as a fairly young player of both of the original Baldur's Gate games, I've been looking forward to the release of the BG III. However, looking at the ESRB of Divinity: Original Sin II, I've seen that it contains sexual content. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm fine with the Romances in BG II (and so are my parents), but exactly how serious is the content in Divinity II, and how do you think that this will carry to BG III? Is it as explicit as games like The Witcher III, or just a series of innuendos? And if there is anything explicit, is there an option to turn it off?

(And yes, I am aware that you would have to initiate a romance for this, but my parents wouldn't really care. However, if I could turn it off or something, that would probably calm them down.)

Thanks in advance.

(Edit: It's worth bringing up that my parents don't care about graphic violence)

In DOS2, you can romance any of the six companions and have a long well-built relationship that varies depending on how you treat them, how you feel about them and vice versa. The relationship does have an 'intimate' moment at the interlude between Act 3 and 4. You can also flirt with various NPC's along the way, but nothing permanent or long-lasting as your main companion romance of choice. Also, there is no restriction based on race and gender, wherein the previous BG games some companions were not interested in you if you weren't a certain race or gender.
According to sources in BG3, you can romance any of the companions according to Larian, but the nature of your relationship can vary. Apparently the Githyanki companion Lae'zel is from a culture where monogamy isn't a concept, so this might cause some friction if you decide to pursue a romance with her. Some companions might develop relationships all by themselves if they mix well together, similar in previous BG games. As to the issue of sexuality, I have no idea.

In D:OS2 there is no sexual content represented visually. It, like most of the game’s story interactions, are relayed to you via the narrator. Those narrations can be quite explicit, though I wouldn’t necessarily call them tasteless or tawdry. I have only “seen” two of these scenes, but in these there were no explicit mention of genitals, for example. More in the vein of “your bodies intertwine and you gasp in ecstasy.” Sort of thing.

This isn’t necessarily a great barometer of what to expect from BG3, though. As I previously stated, a lot of the drama in D:OS2 is expressed via the narrator, whereas BG3 has a high budget and Larian can actually produce cinematic scenes graphically. Furthermore, while Divinity is Larian’s property to do with what they may, Baldur’s Gate is not, and we don’t know what kinds of limitations or expectations Wizards of the Coast has put on them in this regard.

If I were to hazard a guess, I would think that they won’t go as explicit as The Witcher games or even Dragon Age, but that is just conjecture based off of squat diddly.

In Original Sin 2, there’s nothing to see. The game just doesn’t have that kind of cinematics for talking, sexy time or anything else. The narrator did describe a bit of action in my play through, like a moderately saucy bit in a book and only in one point of the game.

I’m sure your folks could find a let’s play to review it if they are worried. In fact I just found a 30 min YouTube video with all the sex scenes. I won’t link it, because your mum will have my balls, but it was easy to find.

Might be different in BG3 as they have mo-cap animations now, but I doubt there’ll be aiming for Witcher 3 level.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VyapOudzFHw

His mum can have my balls.

Sorry, but couldn’t resist.

On second thoughts, maybe I should have chosen different wording? It seemed weirder said back to me.

BG3 should have romanceable succubus companions with first person sex scenes. Just kidding. There are sexual references on BG1/2, you can even romance NPC's and sleep with a female Drow in the underdark(depending on your party, some members will freak out).

Hopefully, the Underdark will be just as 'memorable' as last time. My Elf Mage was very 'popular' whilst in disguise down there. The irony was delicious let me tell you.

The Underdark was perhaps my favorite part of the series. I have high expectations for it in BG3, especially since I plan on playing a Drow.

BG 1 and 2 were both rated teen I think Larian is going for 17+ or 18+. When I played BG I turned off gore and it would be nice to have that option again. I'm with the romances I'm happy with suggestive or explicit, I just want the writing to be good

There was nothing explicit in D:OS2. Game didn't have cutscenes as such, so "sex scenes" worked similar to BG2 - mostly happened of screen, except both characters would wake in bed, possible with no clothing (aka. in underwear). Narrator did a bit describing, but again nothing too indulgent or naughty. There is some outside romance sex one can have but it's purely optional, and again - mostly humorous.

BG3 comes with higher production value, so it's anyone guess if they do special cutscenes for sex. Personally, I hope not, at least nothing explicit. Those rarely look believable and age really quickly. Less is more, I think. Whatever will Larian do, I think they will be more clever with it, then making a digital porno cutscene. I have to especially commend them for Red Prince's "romance scene", which was genuily hilarious and, dare I say it, hotter then any other sex seen in games that I had a displeasure of seeing.

They've said they've said they want to push the M rating as far, as, they can, so that suggests to me all sorts of adult content, such as nudity, sexual themes, booze, drugs, extreme violence, body horror, depictions of gambling, ect...,

Also in the Baldur's Gate Gazetteer in Baldur's Gate: Desent into Avernus, some major Brothels are mentioned, like Undercellar and that Bathhouse.

So yeah all indictations are its going to have some sexual content. Not nearly as much or as explicit as Subverse however, but more like the Witcher games.

Our team translates DOS2 currently and I already saw a few scenes and they are not too heavy. As teen I had a few books from Robin Cook and Martha Stuart and such (don't judge me, pls, haha) and I think the writing is similar but even lighter. No mention of genitals, just lightly erotic stuff like Warlocke said above.

As for BG3, we will see.

I hope it will be more serious in BG3. I don't mean sex animations, but some sort of sexual subtext in dialogues. DOS2 was light and companion romances were a bit of a joke. Generally companion relationships are poorly written in games. I much more prefer some subtle sexual content in dialogues with NPC. Something more like Radeka's quest in DOS2.

Sex animations like in witcher are pretty cringe tbh.

I've never played any of the Witcher games.

Will we be allowed to have gay sex?

If sex is in, gay sex is almost certainly in. Who wants to be the developer who lets you make any character you like as long as they are straight these days? None of them.

Sex in video games is about the most vapid, pointless waste of developer time imaginable.

Yup. It's like there are still some people who are too squeamish to go check out Internet porn, so they are desperate for their sex fix from their videogames.

But yeah, I agree. Either depict sex in a realistic and mature way, or not at all.