While the system isn't in Early Access companions act as playable "origins" - see this early gameplay
demo where Sven plays as Astarion. Like being Godwoken in D:OS2, tadpoles are being used as motivation for everyplayable character and will most likely be central to the plot of the game, as well as its mechanics.
There is interest in community for non-origin/non-tadole companions, but it's unlikely to happen outside perhaps recruitable merceneries, or camp followers like Scratch, Owlbear cut, Helsin or Volo.
