More than two years since its debut, Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 has clinched the 2025 Labor of Love award on Steam. This Dungeon & Dragons-inspired turn-based RPG is celebrated as one of the highest-rated games ever, with over 20 million copies sold by last year. Notably, Baldur’s Gate 3 shone at The Game Awards in 2023 and continued its winning streak, snagging the Best Community Support award at the 2024 and 2025 ceremonies.
Renowned for its ongoing updates and exceptional communication with players, Baldur’s Gate 3 proves that dedicated development can foster lasting loyalty. Its most recent recognition, the fan-voted Labor of Love award, is a testament to developers who “continue to nurture and support their creations” on Steam.
On a related note, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 tied with Baldur’s Gate 3 at the Golden Joystick Awards, earning seven titles. Larian’s head honcho, Swen Vincke, praised their achievement, asserting that it was “definitely deserved.”
Michael Douse, Larian Studios’ publishing director, took to Twitter to express gratitude for the support: “Pretty freaking good way to start 2026. Thank you, everyone!”
However, this win generated a bit of debate among fans. Some questioned the merit of the award for Baldur’s Gate 3, suggesting that No Man’s Sky deserved more recognition based on its substantial updates throughout 2025. One Reddit user aptly pointed out, “BG3 is a great game, sure, but it received one final major update this year. No Man’s Sky received four and it’s still going.”
In recent comments, Baldur’s Gate 3‘s director noted that “a lot has become lost in translation” since the announcement of Divinity and the ensuing AI discussions. He emphasized the need for developers to assess new technologies thoughtfully.
“Pretty freaking good way to start 2026. Thank you, everyone!”
Michael Douse