Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Total Film
Trending
  • Crimson Desert
  • Pokopia
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Starfield
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Don't miss these
A Crimson Desert villain snarls at the camera
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "a cynical amalgamation of borrowed mechanics," says Baldur's Gate 3 lead
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
RPGs "You can't build clever little games anymore" unless you're Expedition 33, RPG legend says
Macduff running from a monster during the upcoming PS5 game, Crimson Desert.
Open World Games Crimson Desert is "opposite" to most open-world games because the "magic kicks in" later, says Arkane Lyon boss
Baldur's Gate 3
RPGs Divinity "is coming alive," Baldur's Gate 3 boss Swen Vincke teases
Best PC games: Screenshots of Baldur's Gate 3, Helldivers 2, Split Fiction and the Resident Evil 4 Remake
PC Gaming The 25 best PC games to play in 2026
Baldur's Gate 3 pale vampire elf Astarion, a man with curly white hair and red eyes
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 writer says the RPG's reputation system exists as Larian can't just let players "break" party members
Star Wars Zero Company
Strategy Games Star Wars Zero Company lets you explore like it's a third-person action game outside of combat
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 hotfix irons out crashes Larian may have accidentally introduced last month
The Future of Starfield
RPGs Bethesda's Tim Lamb on the biggest changes coming to Starfield, the PS5 release, and why all those load screens are necessary
Several nude figures in Baldur's Gate 3, most of them shaped like Gale
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 keeps 4 invisible, naked clones of Gale in your camp just in case
Baldur's Gate 3 companion Shadowheart, a young woman with braided black hair and plated armor, smirking while glancing to the side
Fantasy Shows Baldur's Gate 3 TV show: Everything we know so far about the upcoming HBO fantasy series
Shadowheart stands defensively against aggressive rats in a cluttered room with wooden floors and beams
Baldur's Gate A "simple test" of Baldur's Gate 3's modding tools has "snowballed" into a full-blown remake of the first Baldur's Gate
In Avowed, an Aumaua Envoy of Aedyr wields a two-handed quarterstaff
RPGs I revisited Avowed on PS5 for the anniversary update, and I'm convinced there's never been a better time to play the RPG
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Lae'zel, a Githyanki woman with olive green skin and tied-back red hair, smirking
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart writer sat down with Lae'zel counterpart to help romance make sense
Starfield screenshot showing the new Anchor Point location
RPGs How your feedback helped shape Starfield's biggest updates: "We're always checking in," says Bethesda
  1. Games
  2. RPGs
  3. Baldur's Gate
  4. Baldur's Gate 3

The beautifully chill startup screen in Baldur's Gate 3 came "pretty late" in development after "SO MANY versions" were tested, says publishing lead

News
By Jordan Gerblick published 2 October 2025

Even Baldur's Gate 3's pre-main menu screen is goated

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart
(Image credit: Larian Studios)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

One of the first things you see when booting up Baldur's Gate 3 is an elevated view of the city, and one of the first things you hear is wind gently whipping through trees, the chirping of the region's fauna, and not a whole lot else. It's the startup screen to Baldur's Gate 3, instructing you simply to "press any key to continue," or, alternatively, just enjoy the incredibly peaceful scene, as I often do for a few moments before clicking through.

I'm not the only one who appreciates this little slice of serenity in Baldur's Gate 3, as X user @cheersitskatie recently gushed about the "underrated" screen, describing it as, "literally so perfect and relaxing i could keep it playing in the background all day."

Larian's Very Online publishing director, Michael Douse, noticed katie's tweet and shared this interesting little factoid: "There were SO MANY versions of this over the years if I remember correctly the final one came in pretty late!" said Douse.

Article continues below
You may like
  • Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Astarion, a pale male elf with short curly white hair and red eyes, looking over his shoulder with a smirk on his face As Baldur's Gate 3 devs decide what to do next with Divinity, the RPG's publishing lead celebrates rise in players
  • Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing companion Shadowheart, a young half-elf woman with long tied-back black hair Baldur's Gate 3 director agrees with No Rest for the Wicked lead that Early Access is "a positive thing" for games
  • A Spectator Eye monster in Baldur's Gate 3 In a post-Baldur's Gate 3 world, I need Larian to hold tight to the D&D chaos that makes Hail Mary moments so satisfying

There were SO MANY versions of this over the years if I remember correctly the final one came in pretty late!September 29, 2025

I really shouldn't be surprised that Larian's extraordinary attention to detail extended all the way to this tiny little pre-main menu screen, but I'm thankful that it did. I'll often have a YouTube video of the scene running in the background while I work or write, and in case you have yet to discover this wonderful relaxation/concentration tool, well, thank me later:

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Amid EA's unpopular $55 billion buyout, Baldur's Gate 3 director takes time "to remind people that making games faster and cheaper while charging more has never worked before"

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
Xbox Series X PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Jordan Gerblick
Jordan Gerblick
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer

After earning an English degree from ASU, I worked as a corporate copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. I got my big break here in 2019 with a freelance news gig, and I was hired on as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer in 2021. That means I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my home office, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Astarion, a pale male elf with short curly white hair and red eyes, looking over his shoulder with a smirk on his face
Baldur's Gate As Baldur's Gate 3 devs decide what to do next with Divinity, the RPG's publishing lead celebrates rise in players
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing companion Shadowheart, a young half-elf woman with long tied-back black hair
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 director agrees with No Rest for the Wicked lead that Early Access is "a positive thing" for games
 
 
A Spectator Eye monster in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate In a post-Baldur's Gate 3 world, I need Larian to hold tight to the D&D chaos that makes Hail Mary moments so satisfying
 
 
Sir Lora in Divinity: Original Sin 2
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 sales are huge since Divinity announcement says Larian boss, and OS2 has had "its best month" since 2017
 
 
Divinity
RPGs Baldur's Gate 3 lead and Larian Studios founder shouts out the "unsung heroes" who make games like Divinity possible
 
 
A close up of Laezel in the Baldur's Gate 3 evil ending for the character
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 had so "many people involved," with one dev being "a big JRPG fan" but the CEO being "an Ultima guy"
 
 
Latest in Baldur's Gate
Several nude figures in Baldur's Gate 3, most of them shaped like Gale
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 keeps 4 invisible, naked clones of Gale in your camp just in case
 
 
Astarian looking pensive with his hand resting on his chin in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 actor has avoided roles that were "just like" Astarion, as that's what David Bowie would do
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 hotfix irons out crashes Larian may have accidentally introduced last month
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 party member Shadowheart, played by Jennifer English
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart actor was "fully expecting" Larian to cut her gag about deadly poison
 
 
Shadowheart looking down at a silhouetted Nendoroid figure surrounded by a white line
Toys & Collectibles "GURL IT'S HAPPENING": A Shadowheart Nendoroid figure is on the way, and Baldur's Gate 3 fans are losing it
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 Wyll
Baldur's Gate Baldur's Gate 3 writer admits "I wish I could have done more" with the RPG's least-appreciated party member
 
 
Latest in News
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Games The best PS3 emulator is getting massive improvements on PC handhelds
 
 
Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Movies Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler
 
 
Misty behind her counter in Cyberpunk 2077, the NPC who tells you about tarot cards.
Cyberpunk Cyberpunk 2077's best shopkeeper was originally a side character devs had no idea what to do with
 
 
Gabe Newell in an orange shirt
Games "Gabe really had a great vision": Steam became a PC icon because Valve built community, dev says
 
 
Key art for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet showing bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun with a cyber sword in front of a crumbling planet
PlayStation Sony buys machine-learning company to help "unlock new levels of visual fidelity" in PlayStation games
 
 
Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Fantasy Movies Elijah Wood appears to confirm Aragorn recasting rumors in Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Tom Holland and Zendaya in Spider-Man: Brand New Day
    1
    Spider-Man star Zendaya says she wants to work with Black Panther director Ryan Coogler: "He means so much to the world, but he also means so much to us"
  2. 2
    Sony may never support PS3 games again, but at least the platform's best emulator is getting massive improvements on PC handhelds like Steam Deck
  3. 3
    Cyberpunk 2077's best shopkeeper was originally a "vapid" side character devs had no idea what to do with, says actor, until a few redrafts made her "one of my favourite characters I've ever voiced"
  4. 4
    "Gabe really had a great vision": Steam became a PC gaming cornerstone because Valve built a community with "stickiness," says Nightdive chief who worked on GameStop's Steam competitor
  5. 5
    Frodo actor Elijah Wood says he regularly gets mistaken for fellow '00s movie icon Tobey Maguire: "Hey, Spider-Man!"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...