Warlock, the upcoming AAA Dungeons & Dragons game from Invoke Studios, will not include the romance system that became one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most discussed features.
The news emerged during an interview at Gamescom 2026, where Invoke Studios head Dominic Guay explained that protagonist Kaatri’s story is built around a focused quest rather than romantic relationships.
Kaatri’s journey is not about romance
Guay said romance is “out of the question for now in her life” because Kaatri is determined to pursue a particular quest. While Warlock will take place in an open world, its structure will offer less choice than Baldur’s Gate 3, with one central story at its core.
That means players should not expect romantic storylines between Kaatri and characters such as Tasha. Instead, the game will concentrate on Kaatri’s personal development and the people she encounters along the way.
A found family takes centre stage
Kaatri will meet more than enemies during her adventure. Guay described the relationships around her as a developing found family, pointing to Skev, an imp who travels with Kaatri, as one example.
Those connections will grow throughout the game, but they will not become romance options. The distinction gives Warlock a different emphasis from the relationship-driven party dynamics that helped make Baldur’s Gate 3 so popular.
A more deliberately written adventure
When asked how much Kaatri will change during the story, Guay said players will uncover additional layers of her personality even though she remains firmly committed to her quests.
He added that a written, carefully directed story allows the team to explore those layers in detail through cinematics and carefully placed story moments. In other words, Kaatri’s character arc will be shaped through authored scenes rather than broad relationship systems.
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Warlock will not be a 100-hour slog
The decision to deliver a more crafted experience also affects the game’s overall scale. Warlock is expected to be considerably shorter than a typical 100-hour open-world adventure, rather than stretching into a hundreds-of-hours campaign.
That approach suggests Dungeons & Dragons will provide the setting and creative foundation for Warlock, without requiring the game to reproduce every system or possibility associated with Baldur’s Gate 3.
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