Larian Studios’ publishing director, Michael Douse, has openly condemned scalpers who are reselling the Baldur’s Gate 3 Collector’s Edition at exorbitant prices. The limited edition, originally priced at $269.99, is now being listed for as much as $3,000 on websites like eBay. Douse expressed his frustration on social media, stating, “Hate scalpers, man.
I understand how commodity works, but this CE isn’t a commodity; it’s designed to make someone happy, not rich. If you’re buying it to trade, all you’re doing is making someone sad.”
The Collector’s Edition, which includes a box of books, stickers, a 25cm figurine, and a cloth map, was initially available during the game’s early access phase in December 2022. Despite its high original price, it sold out within a few months.
Scalpers exploit Baldur’s Gate fans
Since the game’s official release in August 2023, acquiring a copy has become significantly more challenging. Scalping has been a persistent issue in the gaming industry, with limited edition items and hardware often being hoarded and resold at inflated prices.
This practice leaves genuine fans and consumers disappointed, as they are unable to purchase the items at their intended prices. While some argue that producing more units of the Collector’s Edition could help mitigate the resale market, the allure of owning a limited-edition item remains a driving factor for many buyers. Larian Studios is encouraged to address this issue by potentially releasing more Collector’s Editions, making them accessible to genuine fans at the original price and reducing the opportunity for scalpers to profit.
Douse and Larian Studios continue to resist practices that could contribute to the scalping problem. The challenge remains to balance the creation of special, limited items with the reality of a secondary market driven by profit rather than passion.
Noah Nguyen is a multi-talented developer who brings a unique perspective to his craft. Initially a creative writing professor, he turned to Dev work for the ability to work remotely. He now lives in Seattle, spending time hiking and drinking craft beer with his fiancee.
