In the weeks since the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, fans of Karlach, the fierce and powerful Tiefling Barbarian in your party, have expressed dissatisfaction with the conclusion of her storyline. There have been extensive discussions on Larian Studios’ forums, with players criticizing the potential fates of Karlach that are determined by the player. However, it seems that the studio has taken note of the feedback and is planning to address it by introducing an optional ending specifically for the Tiefling warrior.
According to a lengthy blog post on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Steam page, the developers have planned numerous updates, including changes to Karlach’s ending. While specific details are scarce, the post promises a new ending that will be fiery, poignant, and give Karlach the ending she deserves.
In contrast to other characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 who have the hope of returning to their normal lives after dealing with the threat of becoming a Mind Flayer, Karlach’s mortality and the impending death caused by an infernal engine in her chest pose unique challenges for her. This lack of hope has been a point of contention among her fans. It remains to be seen whether Larian will add a new option to save her or expand on the existing story to provide a more satisfying conclusion. Whatever the case may be, the changes will be part of the game’s upcoming major patch.
As someone who admires Karlach, I have mixed feelings about the potential changes. While an enhanced epilogue, especially for players who have romanced her, sounds appealing, I believe that her journey of grieving and accepting her own mortality in her final moments is what made her story so compelling. Altering the ending entirely for the sake of making it happier would be disappointing. Sometimes, not every story needs a resounding happy ending. Additionally, if Karlach returns to Avernus, there might be a chance for her to find another way to survive in the future. For me, the hope of a new solution is enough, but it seems that not everyone shares the same sentiment.
Larian Studios also intends to expand the epilogue of Baldur’s Gate 3 beyond Karlach. The current ending is brief and can feel abrupt depending on the player’s choices. The studio initially shortened the cinematic scenes before the game’s launch to avoid them becoming too long and detracting from the epicness. However, due to feedback, Larian will be adding new scenes and possibly incorporating unused scenes discovered by dataminers within Baldur’s Gate 3’s files.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently available on PC, with the PlayStation 5 version scheduled for release on September 6. An Xbox Series X/S version is also in development and planned to launch later this year, although the Series S will not support split-screen co-op gameplay.
