"I'm happy to lose": As Baldur's Gate 3 is dubbed the "Best Game" yet again, Helldivers 2 creative director admits he doesn't mind as Larian's D&D RPG is "one for the ages"

Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Kagha, an elf woman with lengthy thick red hair and a defining long scar along her face
(Image credit: Larian Studios)

Baldur's Gate 3 was just crowned the "Best Game" once more, beating other banger titles like Helldivers 2 - whose own lead thought Larian Studios' win would be well-deserved.

This year's Develop conference in Brighton highlights various video game icons from 2023 and 2024, including Larian Studios' multi-award winner Baldur's Gate 3. The team behind the D&D RPG now boasts three new titles from the event, including one for the "Best Narrative," "Best Studio," and perhaps most impressively, "Best Game" overall. Winning was no easy feat, with competing finalists for the big award being Alan Wake 2, Balatro, Dave the Diver, Helldivers 2, and Spider-Man 2.

It doesn't look like there are any hard feelings to be found among the finalists' developers, though, with Arrowhead Game Studios CCO and Helldivers 2 creative director Johan Pilestedt himself revealing as much. Joking in an online post before any winners were announced, Pilestedt calls this year's Develop awards "a stiff competition," directly tagging in Larian's official account. "I'm excited and nervous!"

In a follow-up response, the developer admits he's "happy to lose against Larian Studios," saying "BG3 was about as great a BG conclusion could've been." Pilestedt continues, seemingly dubbing Baldur's Gate 3 a timeless hit - one truly "for the ages." All hope wasn't lost for Arrowhead's Helldivers 2, either - while Baldur's Gate 3 did end up snagging the "Best Game" award, it lost against the multiplayer shooter in another category for the "Best Game Design" title.

Baldur's Gate 3 writer labels Halsin's iconic bear romance scene a "watershed moment in game history," reveals the "Druid daddy" wasn't originally a romance option

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

Read more
A screenshot from the Balatro: Friends of Jimbo reveal trailer, showing a card with The Witcher's Geralt on the front.
Baldur's Gate 3 director Swen Vincke says indie poker roguelike Balatro was his 2024 GOTY, beating out Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Astro Bot, and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Astarion, a pale male elf with short curly white hair and red eyes, looking over his shoulder with a smirk on his face
As the "incredible journey" to Baldur's Gate 3 wraps up, Larian Studios has its "full attention" on its next RPG: "The story ain't over yet"
The key art for Baldur's Gate 3 showing dragons and the Nautilus, with Karlach standing in the foreground, weapon in hand
The Making of Baldur's Gate 3: "We really wanted to make it so that even if you don't know D&D or Baldur's Gate, you would still have exciting choices as a player"
Baldur's Gate 3 companion Shadowheart, a young woman with braided black hair and plated armor, smirking while glancing to the side
Baldur's Gate 3's Swen Vincke, feeling all "nostalgic," teases the "the story ain't over" for Larian Studios' "incredible journey"
Games like The Witcher 3: A cut scene during Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3.
Baldur's Gate 3's corporate overlord says news on the future of the RPG series is coming "in pretty short order"
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing companion Shadowheart, a young half-elf woman with long tied-back black hair
Baldur's Gate 3 animation impresses Larian Studios, prompting one dev to say "mature" animation of the RPG "would pop the f*** off"
Latest in Baldur's Gate
Astarion from Baldur's Gate 3
"I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software": Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion actor calls for proper AI regulation
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach actor says CEOs "just want to save money" with AI: "It'll destroy their reputation, their company, everything"
Baldur's Gate 3 pale vampire elf Astarion, a man with curly white hair and red eyes
A new Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 stress test update is here, targeting "several crashes and gameplay fixes" while it "brings us closer to release" of the RPG's big update
Games like The Witcher 3: A cut scene during Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3.
Baldur's Gate 3's corporate overlord says news on the future of the RPG series is coming "in pretty short order"
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing Astarion, a pale male elf with short curly white hair and red eyes, looking over his shoulder with a smirk on his face
Baldur's Gate 3 and Larian Studios lead Swen Vincke declares that single-player games are, in fact, not "dead" at all – "they just have to be good"
Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot showing companion Shadowheart, a young half-elf woman with long tied-back black hair
Baldur's Gate 3 animation impresses Larian Studios, prompting one dev to say "mature" animation of the RPG "would pop the f*** off"
Latest in News
Lunar Remastered Collection
"Will today’s players still enjoy a game from 30 years ago?": JRPG icon Kei Shigema says he was thrilled to see Lunar getting a remaster even after all this time
Nick Offerman as Bill and Murray Bartlett as Frank in The Last of Us episode 3
The Last of Us season 2 showrunners tease a "gorgeous" episode akin to season 1’s Emmy-nominated Bill and Frank story: "Just you wait"
The Witcher 4 screenshot with Ciri using sword and sorcery to fight an ancient monster
CD Projekt boss says "cutting-edge single-player games" – you know, like The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk 2 – will "continue to enjoy great popularity" despite industry shifts
Cyberpunk 2077
Despite releasing exactly zero new games, CD Projekt bagged $120 million in profit for 2024 – the Witcher and Cyberpunk studio's third-best result ever
Muse
Daredevil: Born Again midseason trailer teases Matt Murdock’s violent fight with Muse, including a gory scene straight from the comics
Batman looking over the city during Batman: Arkham City, one of the best PS3 games.
The PS2 Batman Begins game was considered such a "disaster" that Christopher Nolan turned down a Dark Knight-inspired game