BG3: Fanfiction Inspires Viral Sex Scene

At a conference this week in England, former Larian Studios writer Baudelaire Welch discussed why the bear romance scene in 2023's Game of the Year, Baldur's Gate 3, became a significant moment in gaming.

Baldur's Gate 3 Bear Romance Scene a Landmark Gaming MomentBG3 Players Desired Daddy Halsin and Received Him

Baudelaire Welch, former Larian Studios writer and Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) companion narrative lead, proudly depicted BG3's sex scene with the character Halsin in his bear form as a "watershed moment in gaming history." Welch also lauded BG3 developer, Larian Studios, for acknowledging and affirming the desires of the game's fanfiction community, a move the writer called unparalleled among game studios.

In BG3, players can romance Halsin, a druid able to shapeshift into a bear. While designed for combat, Halsin's bear-transformation became a romantic element showcasing Halsin's difficulties in retaining his human form during highly emotional moments. Welch revealed this concept wasn't in Halsin's initial design, but rather originated from the game's fanfiction community.

Fanfictions are fan-made fictional works based on various shows, movies, games, and other entertainment. The game's fanfic community clearly expressed their desires, which Welch explained to Eurogamer in a subsequent interview as "daddy Halsin." "I don't believe there were specific plans for him to be a romantic interest," Welch added.

During their presentation, Welch highlighted the significant role fanfiction plays in maintaining a game's community. "Romance is one of the longest-tail aspects of a fandom you can create," Welch said. "People will write about a good romance in fanfiction for years to come."

Welch noted that conversations surrounding fan-created content frequently keep the game's community involved long after the primary narratives have finished and fans have ceased playing the game. This community, Welch added, is especially attractive to women and LGBTQIA+ gamers, who have been vital to the collective excitement for BG3 since its release nearly a year ago.

"This scene feels like a pivotal moment in game history where the fanfiction community feels like they're not a subculture but are the primary audience being addressed in a scene and in the game as a whole," Welch stated.

Bear Romance Scene Was Supposed to be a Gag

The concept of Halsin's bear transformation in romantic settings began as a playful, off-screen joke. However, as studio head Swen Vincke and lead writer John Corcoran further developed Halsin’s character, they chose to promote this notion to a key aspect of his romantic plotline.

"The specific transformation into a bear was initially intended as a joke occurring off-screen in another scene I proposed, because I didn't believe it would progress," Welch disclosed, "but then Swen [Vincke] and John [Corcoran], who are writing Halsin - while crafting more substantial romantic scenes - thought, 'Let's introduce this idea, amplify it, and make it central to this character.'"