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Larian Studios’ Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best RPGs ever made, and it takes a lot to make the game run. However, with Larian somehow managing to bring Divinity Original Sin 2 to iOS, some mobile gamers have held out hope that one day a Baldur’s Gate 3 iOS port could be released.
As it turns out, the usual band of knockoff developers and online scammers have heard the pleas of iOS gamers, but have they delivered? Obviously not, as Larian’s RPG, alongside other AAA games, is being used to rope in unsuspecting gamers to ridiculous fake products.
Fake Baldur’s Gate 3 iOS
Anyone looking for Baldur’s Gate on the iOS app store expect to find a few things: the ports of classic games in the series from over a decade ago, and the typical guide apps available for every game. (Who is downloading these?)
Released in November 2024, Baldur’s Gate 3 – Mobile Turuk is a scam app designed to trick unsuspecting gamers into paying for a useless subscription. Listed as a free application, the “game’s” description claims players will be able to “create their own character from a wide range of D&D classes” or “choose one of several pre-made ‘Origin’ characters, each with their own unique storyline and motivations”.
Alongside the obvious bogus description, the game’s store page entry uses official Baldur’s Gate 3 screenshots with fake mobile control overlays. Screenshots show the always-attractive Astarion in the character creator as well as gameplay screenshots showing the boss fight against a Spectator, the mini Beholder.
All of this is to try and loop unsuspecting players into the app’s true purpose, signing up for a useless subscription. Priced at $29.99 for 30 days, the subscription claims to unlock access to the game, which is doesn’t. Furthermore, the app’s terms of service reveal that it does collect numerous pieces of data, including a user’s IP address.
It’s worth noting that Larian Studios has already shut down rumours of a Baldur’s Gate 3 Mobile port in the past. While this doesn’t mean the game will never come to iOS platforms – especially as iPad tablets continue to skyrocket in power – it does mean that gamers should look to official sources before downloading sketchy games on their phone.
A worrying trend
Unfortunately, Baldur’s Gate 3 is far from the only game to be targeted in these fake mobile releases. For example, “GTA 6 Mobile” is a game available on the iOS App Store, complete with screenshots of GTA V. With GTA 6 not even announced for PC yet, it’s unlikely any mobile port is coming for that particular game.
Most of these games are short-lived on the App Store, and the iOS refund system is typically strong enough to get most scam victims their money back. However, for those who don’t know how to use the Apple Refund services, or those who simply don’t know it exists, it’s worrying that these games are able to make their way to the iOS App Store at all.
For more Baldur’s Gate 3 coverage, read about the game’s last major patch on the way this year. Furthermore, read about how Google Stadia ended up causing major issues for the game that still exist today.