The Baldur's Gate 3 community remains as creative as ever, three years on from the release of Larian Studios' big RPG – so creative, in fact, there's a team of fans currently bringing the original Baldur's Gate game from 1998 back to life via its threequel.
If you've not heard of the project yet, the idea for the Baldur's Gate remake sprouted when an unlocked version of Baldur's Gate 3's official modding tools showed up over on NexusMods in September of 2024 – so, nearly two years ago now.
Initially, the talented team behind it didn't intend to recreate all of the OG Baldur's Gate, but rather play around with Candlekeep alone. However, it "snowballed" into a full-blown remake: Deathbringer's Reign.
I'm grateful it did, for one, because it looks to be coming along amazingly, if a new post on Reddit from the modders behind it offers anything to go by. It highlights the changes they've made to Candlekeep since their first demo dropped earlier this year, and the screenshots show a beautiful, lush build.
The foliage has expanded tenfold, and I'm obsessed – it reminds me of how I mod my other RPGs, like Skyrim, to look: like a fae druid's dream come true.
Deathbringer's Reign (BG1 Remake) - Candlekeep Overhaulfrom r/BaldursGate3
"As our team has grown and our mastery of the Baldur's Gate 3 engine has evolved, we decided we needed to go back to the beginning and give your childhood home the massive visual overhaul it truly deserves," reads the creators' thread itself.
"Our level designers have completely reimagined the citadel with a much heavier focus on a lush, overgrown garden vibe." I'd say they aced that goal and then some, honestly.
"We wanted Candlekeep to feel like a truly ancient, peaceful sanctuary that has been softly reclaimed by nature over the centuries," continues the post – and that's precisely the vibe I get from the attached images.
The modders do note, though, "that what you are seeing is still in active development!" They are still "in the process of adding the final layers of polish to this overgrown environment." In fact, their message ends with a call to fellow modders.
So, if you're a seasoned veteran in the modding scene – or even a newbie, as the skilled Deathbringer's Reign team says it shouldn't stop you – and you'd like to help out, you can apply via their Discord. Or, simply join to follow build and release updates like me.
