BG3 prequel novel starring Astarion gets 2026 release date

The world of Larian Studios’s Baldur’s Gate 3 is expanding. The wildly successful 2023 RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe was the first to claim Game of the Year honors at all five major award ceremonies. Polygon can exclusively reveal that Larian Studios and Wizards of the Coast have teamed up with Random House Worlds for a new collaboration centered around the game’s immersive lore and unforgettable characters. Random House Worlds plans to publish four titles as part of the initiative in 2026, with plans for 2027 and beyond to be revealed at a later date.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion, written by the award-winning, New York Times bestselling fantasy author T. Kingfisher, will hit stores on Sept. 29. This prequel novel, published by Random House Worlds, takes place prior to the events of the 2023 game, and follows the fan-favorite High Elf during his years of servitude under the vampire lord Cazador Szarr. Baldur’s Gate 3 senior writer Stephen Rooney consulted on the project in order to ensure consistency with the game’s lore and world-building. An audiobook narrated by Neil Newbon — who took home the trophy for Best Performance for his portrayal of Astarion at The Game Awards in 2023 — will also be published by Penguin Random House Audio.

Image: Random House Worlds / Wizards of the Coast / Larian Studios

Clarkson Potter will publish Baldur’s Gate 3: The Necromancy of Thay on July 21, a blank, grid-paper notebook that faithfully reproduces a key in-game item. It features foil stamping, an embossed skull on the cover, and illustrated “clasps” to keep its unholy contents out of the wrong hands. Later in the summer, Ten Speed Press will publish The Official Baldur’s Gate 3 Coloring Book. It includes 40 black-and-white line drawings of characters, settings, and creatures from the game, with illustrations by Jaki King.

Finally, on Nov. 3, Ten Speed Press will publish A Feast for a Tenday: The Official Baldur’s Gate Cookbook by Andrew Wheeler. Bring your appetite, because the book will include 65 recipes organized by course and camp location. Dishes intended for sharing will be marked as “Romanceable,” a fun touch for all the Baldur’s Gate 3 shippers out there.

This collaboration is just the latest sign that the popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 shows no signs of slowing. Back in February, HBO announced plans to develop a series set after the events of the game. Simply titled Baldur’s Gate, the show will be helmed by Craig Mazin, who previously worked on Chernobyl and The Last of Us. Whether you prefer to read, watch, or play, it seems like you’ll be eatin’ good for a long while if you’re a Baldur’s Gate fan.