Baldur’s Gate 3 Takes Home Steam’s Labor of Love Award After Two Years of Community-Driven Updates: “A Great Way to Kick Off 2026”

More than two years after its debut, Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 has snagged Steam’s 2025 Labor of Love award. This turn-based RPG, inspired by Dungeons and Dragons, stands as one of the highest-rated games ever, with over 20 million copies sold as of last year.

Baldur’s Gate 3 had a stellar run at The Game Awards in 2023, but it didn’t stop there; it also took home the Best Community Support award in both 2024 and 2025. The game is celebrated for its ongoing updates and the team’s excellent communication with players, which has led to a steady stream of accolades, including the recent fan-voted Labor of Love award, recognizing developers who “continue to nurture and support their creations” on Steam.

Larian Studios’ publishing director, Michael Douse, took to Twitter to express gratitude for the votes and support, stating, “Pretty good way to start 2026. Thank you everyone!”

However, the win sparked some debate among fans, with opinions divided on whether Baldur’s Gate 3 truly deserved the honor. Some argue that No Man’s Sky made greater strides in 2025, citing its multiple updates compared to Baldur’s Gate 3’s single major update this past year.

“I hate when people vote for things based on how much they like them rather than how much they deserve them,” one user commented on the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit. “BG3 is a great game, sure, but it received one final major update this year. No Man’s Sky received four and it’s still going.”

The director of Baldur’s Gate 3 noted that “a lot has become lost in translation” since the announcement of Divinity and the subsequent AI backlash, emphasizing the importance of evaluating new technologies responsibly.