Baldur’s Gate 3 Developers Reveal Karlach’s Key Feature Was Late Addition

The creators of Baldur’s Gate 3 have revealed that the infernal engine heart, a crucial aspect of Karlach, was added to the character at a later stage.

At the BAFTA’s An Evening with Baldur’s Gate 3 masterclass on June 14, 2024, Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke, Writing Director Adam Smith, and Lead Writer Chrystal Ding discussed the development of the award-winning game and shared an interesting tidbit about Karlach. According to PC Gamer, who attended the event, it was revealed that the character’s infernal engine was a last-minute addition and one of the final pieces to fall into place during the creation of Baldur’s Gate 3.

During the discussion, Smith talked about the evolution of Karlach, the beloved fiery tiefling, stating, “We had numerous ideas for Karlach, but the final piece that completed her character was the heart. Initially, she was portrayed as a mere escapee from hell.”

The team was searching for a way to make Karlach even more interesting and engaging, which led them to give her an engine as a heart. This decision was further explained by stating that they were trying to find something unique about the character that could be interacted with and engaged with.

Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach with axe art — Larian Studios

The developers faced a significant challenge when they decided to introduce a major aspect of Karlach’s character during the later stages of development. This included implementing new mechanics and visual elements that were necessary for this addition. Smith even made a joke about the situation, remembering how the lighting and cinematic teams reacted when they were told that Karlach now had a glowing metal heart in her chest. It was quite a task for them, as Smith humorously recalled, “That was quite a surprise for them on a Wednesday.”

Vincke also noted that the notes were exchanged between both the cinematic teams and the development team, with each side inspiring changes and collaborating to define the actions and personalities of the characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. This teamwork was integral to the overall process, as Vincke stated that it was a key factor in shaping the direction of the game.

Despite not being mentioned during early access, it is surprising that Karlach’s infernal engine heart, which is an integral part of her character, was not revealed until later in development. It is uncertain whether Larian deliberately saved this reveal for launch or if it was a storyline that was not initially planned.

Despite the fact that Karlach’s story heavily centers on her malfunctioning engine heart, it is surprising that she expresses joy at finally being liberated from Avernus. However, this joy is always accompanied by a fear that the engine may either cause her demise or compel her to return to the Hells in search of a remedy.

Additionally, players can utilize the Infernal Iron and Soul Coins to enhance her capabilities. The latter are consumables that activate Karlach’s unique Infernal Fury ability.

Despite this, Larian was able to successfully write, record, and produce cinematics for a new Karlach ending that was introduced in Patch 2, all within a month of the game’s launch. While these significant changes and story additions are certainly impressive, they are not entirely unexpected.