BALDUR'S GATE 3 EARLY VERSION FEATURED TIEFLING ASTARION, GDC PANEL CONFIRMS

Larian Studios revealed intriguing details about Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3 during a GDC panel, showing the character's initial design as a Tiefling instead of the High-Elf fans are familiar with today. The vampire rogue, voiced by award-winning actor Neil Newbon, initially sported glowing yellow eyes and black hair, marking a significant change from his iconic curly white hair. Despite these early differences, his signature voice remained largely the same. Astarion has become an internet sensation, with fans creating various forms of content such as fan art, mods, and memes. The game itself has been highly praised, with a perfect score review stating it has set the new standard for CRPGs due to its tactical combat, compelling story, and rich exploration.

Astarion was initially designed as a Tiefling with yellow eyes and black hair, which is a stark contrast to the High-Elf rogue with white hair that players know in the final version of Baldur's Gate 3.

Baldur's Gate 3 is a highly-anticipated addition to the CRPG genre and is developed by Larian Studios. It's the successor to the classic Baldur's Gate series that has a rich history dating back to its first release in 1998. The original series is known for bringing the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset to computer gaming, and Baldur's Gate 3 continues this tradition with a modern take on the formula. The game combines deep storytelling, strategic combat, and player choice to create an immersive fantasy experience. It left early access and was fully released in 2023, quickly gaining acclaim for its gameplay mechanics and fidelity to the D&D source material.