Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion’s Romance Scene Required Some ‘Slight’ Adjustments

Voice actor Neil Newbon gets cheeky dev notes for Astarion’s amorous scenes in Baldur’s Gate 3.

A recent datamine of Baldur’s Gate 3 has unearthed some humorous behind-the-scenes details, particularly concerning Astarion’s romantic escapades. In a final romance scene, voice actor Neil Newbon received a cheeky development note, shedding light on the character’s passionate performances.

The note for the cinematic context reads: “Turning to the player, taking their hands in his for a moment,” followed by: “NodeContext: Slightly horny. (ONLY SLIGHTLY, NEIL).” The note’s use of all caps for emphasis adds a playful touch to the otherwise standard directive.

It appears that Newbon may have leaned a bit too much into the character’s sensuality during recording sessions. Considering the character’s more intense moments in the game, such as the scene where he promises to “Eat you right up,” it’s no surprise that Astarion’s ‘slight’ horniness can be quite substantial compared to other characters.

Astarion’s ambiguity, teetering between flirtation and a desire for blood, is part of his charm. The character has garnered a considerable fan following, with players often uncertain about his true intentions. Larian Studios even played along with Astarion’s allure in an April Fool’s joke about him launching ‘OnlyFangs,’ a fictional platform for “exclusive (unrated) vampire spawn content.”

In a previous interview with Neil Newbon, he expressed enthusiasm for the character’s sensuous side and the fan response it has generated. “So for me, I think it’s a glorious compliment … as long as you have a reaction, I’m cool with it … Neil gets to be very chuffed that a lot of people were entertained. Astarion gets the ego trip of being thirsted after.”

The development note likely reflects the playful spirit within the game’s development, similar to Amelia Tyler—the game’s narrator—humorously cautioning players who fancy Astarion to consider therapy. It appears that Astarion’s allure comes with a dose of playful self-awareness.