The fate of Baldur's Gate 3 merchandise now rests squarely in players' hands as Nendoroid launches a democratic initiative letting fans choose which character will follow Astarion in receiving an official chibi-style figurine. This unprecedented community poll, running through October 22, 2025, opens voting to literally any character from Larian Studios' groundbreaking RPG—whether it's a beloved companion like fiery Karlach or obscure NPCs lurking in Baldur's Gate's shadowy corners. The decision represents a fascinating power shift toward player agency in collectible culture, especially notable given how the game's explosive success initially caught manufacturers off-guard two years post-launch. With Astarion already immortalized in adorable miniature form, the competitive landscape has dramatically widened—no longer will his vampire-fueled popularity dominate the merchandise conversation.

baldur-s-gate-3-fans-vote-for-next-nendoroid-figurine-in-community-poll-image-0

The Great Companion Showdown

While technically permitting votes for any entity in Faerûn—from brain-eating Mind Flayers to camp chef Volothamp Geddarm—the true battleground remains the core companion roster. These richly developed characters have naturally emerged as frontrunners due to their narrative prominence and player attachment cultivated across thousands of playthroughs. The polling mechanics cleverly accommodate factional loyalty by allowing unlimited votes, enabling supporters to champion multiple favorites simultaneously. This has sparked intriguing voting strategies:

  • 💥 Karlach enthusiasts rally around her explosive personality and tragic backstory

  • 🌌 Wyll advocates highlight his morally complex Blade of Frontiers persona

  • 🌙 Shadowheart devotees emphasize her mysterious Shar-worshiping allure

  • 💫 Gale loyalists tout his magical prowess and bombastic charm

Social media campaigns have erupted with faction-specific hashtags, while Reddit threads analyze voting patterns like political strategists. The absence of Astarion from contention creates a vacuum where previously overshadowed characters now shine—Lae'zel's stern charisma and Halsin's earthy wisdom gain unexpected momentum.

Merchandise Evolution & Industry Surprises

The Nendoroid poll arrives alongside completed Funko Pop! releases for all Origin characters—a milestone that took nearly two years to achieve despite the game's instant popularity. This merchandise lag reveals how Baldur's Gate 3's unprecedented success blindsided the collectibles industry. When the RPG launched in 2023, manufacturers severely underestimated demand, leading to:

Timeline Merchandise Milestone Community Response
2023 Launch Zero official figurines Fans scoured Magic: The Gathering tie-in cards
Early 2024 First Funko Wave (Astarion/Shadowheart/Karlach) Instant sell-outs & secondary market inflation
Mid-2025 Second Funko Wave (Wyll/Lae'zel/Gale) Stabilized availability at retail
October 2025 Nendoroid poll opens Campaigns for underrepresented characters

The gradual rollout contrasts sharply with typical triple-A game merchandise strategies, where collectibles often launch alongside games. This delay inadvertently created a fascinating collector psychology—fans developed deeper attachments through extended play before physical representations emerged, making each release feel earned rather than exploitative.

Cultural Echoes Beyond the Poll

Larian's hands-off approach to merchandise curation—letting manufacturers and now fans dictate collectible priorities—reflects their broader design philosophy prioritizing organic player narratives over corporate mandates. This resonates powerfully in an industry where licensed products typically get dictated by marketing algorithms rather than community passion. The poll's timing in late 2025 proves especially poignant as Baldur's Gate 3 maintains remarkable player retention despite being two years old—a testament to its intricate reactivity and character depth that keeps companions feeling like living entities worthy of physical homage.

Meanwhile, fascinating questions percolate about representation balance:

  • Will "main character energy" inevitably favor Origin companions over equally memorable side characters like Jaheira or Mizora?

  • Could dark horse candidates break through—perhaps Raphael with his show-stopping act tunes?

  • Does allowing multiple votes dilute or enhance democratic legitimacy?

As the October 22 deadline approaches, the campaign transcends mere merchandise selection. It becomes a cultural snapshot of what resonates most deeply in this landmark RPG—whether heroism, moral ambiguity, romance potential, or sheer memeability ultimately triumphs. Perhaps the real treasure isn't the figurine at all, but the impassioned debates we spark along the way about why fictional beings burrow so profoundly into our imaginations. What does your vote reveal about the stories that truly move you in this boundless realm of digital storytelling?