Baldur's Gate 3 is the simplest purchase on this site. You pay for the game once and that is the end of the spending: there is no shop, no currency and no pass, and every major update since launch has been free. The opening hour is a tense prologue aboard an alien ship that introduces the turn-based combat, the dice and the companions who will follow you for the next hundred hours.
The first hour, minute by minute
- 00:00
Download
Around 150 GB, and Larian requires an SSD. On a typical UK connection this is a long first wait, so start it the night before.
- 00:25
Character creation
Pick one of the Origin characters with their own story, or build your own hero. Races, classes and looks are deep enough to lose half an hour here.
- 00:45
Waking up on the ship
The prologue opens aboard an alien ship under attack. Movement, talking and the dice rolls that decide conversations arrive in the first few minutes.
- 00:52
First turn-based fight
A small fight teaches main actions, quick secondary actions and positioning. Errors cost little and the tutorial prompts are clear.
- 00:58
First companions
You meet the first characters who can join your party, each with a strong point of view and a reason to distrust you.
- 01:00
Where you stand
Still inside the prologue, caught up in the story and with the camp, the party and a whole continent still ahead.
What the opening hour gets right
Few games start this confidently. The prologue drops you into a crisis, then teaches everything that matters through it: talking your way past trouble with dice rolls, using the environment in fights, and working out which companions you trust. It feels like story first and tutorial second.
Turn-based combat is friendlier than its reputation. You can take your time, undo nothing but lose little, and the game explains each type of action as it arrives.
Where it asks a lot
The install is the biggest in our ten, and the SSD requirement is firm. On older consoles and PCs it simply isn't available: there is no PS4, Xbox One or Switch version, and Larian has said there won't be a Switch 2 version.
The first hour is mostly setup. If you want action straight away, the character creator and the prologue's pace may feel slow. Stick with it.
Money: the easiest sum on this site
On PC the game is £49.99 on Steam and GOG, with an optional Digital Deluxe upgrade of cosmetics, a soundtrack and an artbook for £8.50. On consoles the list price is £57.99; PlayStation Store had it at £40.59 in a sale ending on 7 October 2026. The Xbox version now includes the Windows version through Xbox Play Anywhere.
Online co-op for up to four players is free on PC. On PS5 you need PlayStation Plus, from £7.99 a month, and on Xbox you need Game Pass Essential, from £6.99 a month. Solo play and two-player split-screen need neither.
Who should play it
Anyone who enjoys stories, characters and tactical fights, and has the storage and the evenings to give it. It is also one of the best co-op campaigns you can play with friends, as long as everyone is ready for long sessions.
What we liked, what we didn't
Worth your hour
- No shop, no currency, no pass: pay once
- An outstanding prologue that sells the whole game
- Cross-play and cross-save across PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox
- Free online co-op on PC for up to four players
Watch out for
- A 150 GB install that needs an SSD
- Console list price is £8 higher than PC
- Online co-op on consoles needs a paid subscription
- The first hour is mostly setup and character creation
What Baldur's Gate 3 really costs
Free, or included in the price
- The complete game, with all three acts
- Every patch since launch, including new subclasses
- Online co-op on PC, split-screen on consoles
- Official modding tools on PC
Price list (UK, VAT included)
| Item | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Steam or GOG, PC | £49.99 | Standard edition |
| Digital Deluxe upgrade, PC | £8.50 | Cosmetics, soundtrack, artbook |
| PlayStation Store, PS5 | £57.99 | £40.59 in a sale ending 7 October 2026 |
| Xbox Store, Series X|S | £57.99 | Includes the Windows version via Play Anywhere |
| Digital Deluxe Edition, consoles | £65.99 | Game plus the Deluxe extras |
| PlayStation Plus Essential | £7.99/month | Only for online co-op on PS5 |
| Game Pass Essential | £6.99/month | Only for online co-op on Xbox |
Our month-one advice
Buy the standard edition on the platform where you'll play it. On PC, Steam and GOG cost the same; GOG's version has no DRM. Skip the Deluxe upgrade unless you want the artbook and soundtrack. On consoles, check for a sale before paying the full £57.99.
Prices checked 24 September 2026 on the official UK stores. They change with sales and currency updates, so the store checkout price is the one that counts.
How to pay for Baldur's Gate 3 in the UK · Set a spending limit first
Questions people ask
How much is Baldur's Gate 3 in the UK?
£49.99 on Steam and GOG for PC, and £57.99 list price on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Console stores often run sales, so check before buying.
Does Baldur's Gate 3 have microtransactions?
No. There is no in-game shop or currency. The only optional extra is the Digital Deluxe pack of cosmetics and extra material.
Do I need PlayStation Plus to play?
Only for online co-op on PS5. Single-player and local split-screen don't need a subscription. On PC, online co-op is free.
Is Baldur's Gate 3 suitable for teenagers?
PEGI rates it 18 for violence, bad language and sex. Parents can check the full descriptors on the PEGI website before deciding.
