Larian's Official Reply to "Cut Content"

[Maverick56]

So there have been a load of topics and discussion about Larian's Community Update #24. Which I'll be referencing a lot here, so it's probably good you skim it.


So I'm pretty much going to skip over the "Bugs" section of this, while they do reference some issues where content doesn't trigger because of a bug (They use Minthara as an example) there is a reason for it. They call it a "Bug" for simplicity, but the reason that trigger wasn't and isn't working properly to begin with is because the area and quest that was originally meant to trigger it was..."trimmed" (Because Larian doesn't like the word cut).

This obviously caused the content to not trigger properly, and thus, here we are.

Granted, the above is much more speculative and based on context clue's from data-mined information.

Moving on to the biggest thing Larian really addressed.
The Epilogue/Upper City/Ending/etc...etc...

Larian attempts to say that it isn't "Cut Content" but then immediately says:

"One of the reasons why we trimmed the epilogue is because we were afraid the ending cinematics were becoming too long and would detract from the epicness of the experience."

I mean okay, you didn't think it worked properly, but that is still...cut content. It doesn't just stop being cut because you will it to not be so. (Or call it "trimmed" like that is better?).

Also the idea that they made a 120+ hour game and thought that a few minutes of cinematics to end it off was "too long" is about the silliest excuse I've ever heard someone attempt to say with a straight face.

"We’ve started expanding the epilogues and you’ll see the first results of that in Patch 2 with the addition of a new optional ending with Karlach. It’s fiery, poignant, and gives her the ending she deserves."

Don't even get me started on this "fiery, poignant, ending that she deserves" it is still literally labeled as "Karlach.Bad2" in the files...

"The third is about the things we actually didn’t plan for, and those we once considered but ultimately didn’t do."

They attempt to explain this away as "Oh that was early stage ideas that got cut early on." kinda thing, which yeah I totally understand, games evolve in planning, things change...

But you either planned to have the Tadpoles be meaningful early on, cut the idea...and left it in the game, on purpose...for some reason? Or you cut it late in the game, and this is a lie...or PR speak.


"It was always our intention for the Upper City to be an epic, cinematic epilogue bringing the story of Baldur’s Gate 3 to a close. But we didn’t talk about that in advance because it would have been a major spoiler."

Well see as you say that people will be able to see the "Upper City" but then make the Upper city only the epilogue, which you... "trimmed" then the players...don't get an Upper City. Thats not really rocket science here.

As for "Not talking about it because it's a major spoiler"... No?

"You will get a chance to witness the epicness of the Upper City, depending on your branching choices at the end of the game." Is all you needed to say.

Then again, that would mean that the game needed branching choices...which, it doesn't.


My point for all this is that I genuinely hope that BG3 gets all the updates and love it deserves, because right now it feels unfinished.

To be clear, I love the game. I think it's a solid 8.3 but is being robbed of a 9+/10 because of this "Trimmed" content non-sense.


ENDING SPOILER WARNING


You get 3 endings.

Good - Destroy the Brain
Bad - Control the Brain (For Bhaal or for Yourself)
Gale - Have him explode, and get half of the good ending.


The rest of your choices, simply change the flavor of those endings...like:

Who is the mindflayer in the final battle?
PC
Emperor
Orhpeus
Companion

The choice doesn't really matter.

Ironhand Gnomes, or the Gondians?

Pointless.

[Maverick56]

Originally posted by Glizzy Gobbler:

Originally posted by Simbolic:

They apparently had more content but didn't think it was engaging enough for the players so they took it out.

it happens all the time, since the 90s games have had content cut for reasons such as time constraints funding or just all around bad ideas. as i said this thread is nothing more then a pointless whine fest over something that isn't a big deal.

Tell me you didn't read the entire OP without telling me...

What an absolute clown comment.

[Edstyles]

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p. Im sort of hoping we get it asap tho . Specially considering Karlachs good ending is probably tied in the upper city.

[Maverick56]

Originally posted by dcalebh:

Or, hear me out, they cut a larger upper city early and all those quests you 'see' that take place there and never got moved down to the lower city were likewise cut early and therefore never had their flags moved out of a deleted zone because its a waste of time to update flags for content you decided you didn't want to include anyway.

While this is possible, the issue is that how content development works is in stages.

Voice recording, and language translating are normally one of the last things to happen in production, and these were both done in regards the the "trimmed" content.

As for the missing triggers, the issue is that the entire questline wasn't cut. There are references to quests, people, and places you never do, meet, or go because those voice lines were left in...causing there to be a feel of..."Cut Content"

The big issue is also the lack of an ending, which Larian flat out admitted to 'Trimming' and while we might one day get back the epilogue, the lame 3 choice Mass Effect endings are probably sticking around forever.

[Lminith]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p

They trimmed the Red Dragon? :O
Well it's only a couple of years

[Яeplicant]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p. Im sort of hoping we get it asap tho . Specially considering Karlachs good ending is probably tied in the upper city.

Very much doable currently. You'll see it when you get there.

[Settings]

Originally posted by Maverick56:

INB4: "There is no proof of cut content, that is just a false narrative, game is 11/10 perfect."

lmao literally the next comment is a well known troll saying exactly that, this thread is blessed

[HTakara]

"ending epilogue could be too long" > cuts down to 30seconds "perfect"

[Maverick56]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p. Im sort of hoping we get it asap tho . Specially considering Karlachs good ending is probably tied in the upper city.

The Dragon during the Netherbrain fight is the one for that Achievement, I currently have it and you can check it.

They limited the "Upper City" to the final battle gauntlet thing you do. Which is horribly lame, and not at all what Larien lead people to believe.

[月が綺麗ですね]

Originally posted by dcalebh:

Originally posted by ◥◣ . ◢◤:

They annoying part for me is that 100+ hour content boils down to three bad endings. The endings are pretty meaningless imo. I at least felt a few quests had better storyline and outcomes.

For upper city to only be a cinematic is a dumb answer when quests in game files have direct triggers that can only happen there. You cannot complete the quests that need those triggers. ACT 3 is just not finished. Maybe in 2-3 years. Rest of the game felt good though. But the game crumbles in act 3.

Or, hear me out, they cut a larger upper city early and all those quests you 'see' that take place there and never got moved down to the lower city were likewise cut early and therefore never had their flags moved out of a deleted zone because its a waste of time to update flags for content you decided you didn't want to include anyway.

Or lazy work because somehow they decided to move a ending into the game. Upper city is 100% cut because some bug and wasn't cut early and they didn't have time to move flags and triggers.

"giving you a chance to explore the menacing roads of the Outer City, the opulent estates of the Upper City, and the dark alleys and pubs of the Lower City." - June 12, 2023

[月が綺麗ですね]

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p. Im sort of hoping we get it asap tho . Specially considering Karlachs good ending is probably tied in the upper city.

You can get the red dragon achievement right now.

[Maverick56]

Originally posted by ᛊᚨᛁᛚᛟᚱ ᛗᛟᛟᚾ:

Originally posted by Maverick56:

INB4: "There is no proof of cut content, that is just a false narrative, game is 11/10 perfect."

lmao literally the next comment is a well known troll saying exactly that, this thread is blessed

My brother in gaming.

[Edstyles]

Originally posted by Maverick56:

Originally posted by Edstyles:

Here is a list of the bg3 achievments

https://afkgaming.com/gaming/general/baldurs-gate-3-100-achievements-and-platinum-trophy-guide#:~:text=How%20to%20get%20100%25%20Achievements%20in%20Baldur%E2%80%99s%20Gate,the%20Father%20...%208%20Ceremorphosis%20...%20Flere%20elementer

As you can see there is an achievement to kill a red dragon in the upper city. No idea if its possible to get but my guess its not , not until we get upper city which will probably be in defenitive edition :p. Im sort of hoping we get it asap tho . Specially considering Karlachs good ending is probably tied in the upper city.

The Dragon during the Netherbrain fight is the one for that Achievement, I currently have it and you can check it.

They limited the "Upper City" to the final battle gauntlet thing you do. Which is horribly lame, and not at all what Larien lead people to believe.

Ah i see yeah . I remember that dragon now. Cant believe that was the dragon for that achievement , didnt feel like upper city at all sigh. Just remember hearing upper city was suposed to be explorable.

[Maverick56]

Originally posted by ◥◣ . ◢◤:

Originally posted by dcalebh:

Or, hear me out, they cut a larger upper city early and all those quests you 'see' that take place there and never got moved down to the lower city were likewise cut early and therefore never had their flags moved out of a deleted zone because its a waste of time to update flags for content you decided you didn't want to include anyway.

Or lazy work because somehow they decided to move a ending into the game. Upper city is 100% cut because some bug and wasn't cut early and they didn't have time to move flags and triggers.

"giving you a chance to explore the menacing roads of the Outer City, the opulent estates of the Upper City, and the dark alleys and pubs of the Lower City." - June 12, 2023

Oh didn't you hear? When they said "Opulent Estates of the Upper City" what they meant was exploring the rubble of them, while fighting through a gauntlet of enemies on the way to the last boss of the game before a lack luster "trimmed" epilogue.

[Lminith]

Originally posted by ◥◣ . ◢◤:

"giving you a chance to explore the menacing roads of the Outer City, the opulent estates of the Upper City, and the dark alleys and pubs of the Lower City." - June 12, 2023

So CDPR was review bombed because they lied but Larian lying 2 weeks before release is a new standard?

[ACS36]

I mean they all ready admitted the truth before the release of the game.

They said they were worried the game had peaked during early access. This is all you need to know about what happened to the finished product. They also said they were surprised the game did so well on release.

Those two statements from the developers tell you most of the story. They cut loose ends in the game and pushed out a release date because they were concerned about the revenue stream for the game.

The game was released unfinished. It's real bad look for the company to not just admit it. Yet, here we are -- people praising the company and the game for doing what other companies don't do. Which is just a lie.

You can see they had a lot of big ideas in place for the game but simply ran out of time to complete them.