Been tripping hard? It’s not you, it’s us. (Probably.). Today’s hotfix aims to tackle the kaleidoscope of colours that appear when changing locations, as well as various other bugs that have made their way into the game.
We’re still fixing a few things, and will continue to release small hotfixes addressing bugs in the game. Please report any issues with our Support Team.
Missed out on what’s new on Patch 8? Read all about it here, and tune into today’s stream as our Dark Urge run continues over on Twitch from 1pm UTC!
MODDING
Toolkit
Fixed a potential crash when loading a level without a required mod and then loading with the required mod.
GAME
Crashes and Performance
Fixed a crash when hovering over certain items in the inventory or while trading.
Fixed trippy, high-saturation graphical artefacts appearing in-game, often when teleporting using waypoints.
New Subclasses
Hexblade warlocks can now replace a spell at Level 2 like the other warlock subclasses.
Immutable Form now reacts to Arcane Shot: Banishing Arrow.
The Fancy Footwork passive now also works even if you miss.
Vaprak's Greed now takes into account Human Versatility and increases carrying capacity accordingly by another quarter.
Arcane Shot: Grasping Arrow can now also damage Flying targets when they move.
Removed the Long Rest indicator on the Accursed Spectre passive tooltip.
Dazzling Breath now correctly applies the spellcasting ability modifier when an enemy succeeds its Saving Throw.
Dismissing Wind Walk and Gaseous Form will no longer also remove your Starry Form.
The Shadow Blade no longer shows an empty tooltip when you examine the item while upcasting.
Fixed a bug causing Shadow Blade to lose properties when other conditions are removed. This could cause, for example, the blade to lose any bonus damage when Concentration is broken.
Piercing Arrow's overall damage is now also reduced by half rather than just the bonus damage.
Curving Shot will now only target enemies and not neutral parties. (This could cause neutral parties to, then, naturally, also become your enemies.)
Fixed a bug allowing Sneak Attacks to be triggered on Dirty Trick: Sand Toss.
Gameplay and Scripting
Removed some defunct dialogue that mistakenly made it into Minthara's Speak with Dead dialogue in Patch 8.
Fixed an issue preventing you from waking up if you Long Rested while Shadowheart was killed outside of camp after deciding her parents' fate.
The recast of Cloudkill at Level 6 is now accurately marked as Level 6 instead of Level 5 in the UI.
Fixed a bug preventing you from moving corpses into containers on the controller or split screen UI.
Fixed a multiplayer bug where the Traveller's Chest belonging to the client wouldn't show up in the Basement (Blighted Village) camp in Act I.
Fixed the Illusory Double invoked with Invoke Duplicity appearing to lack equipment and armour.
Fixed a bug where if you had Scratch summoned and then travelled to a new region, he would be dismissed once the new region loaded and, as a bonus, appear dead in your party line.
All barbarian Rages now correctly gain 3 damage bonus, instead of the previous 2, for objects thrown in a Rage once they hit Level 9.
The movement-based Booming Blade condition will no longer apply to inanimate objects that can't move on their own anyway.
Photo Mode
Fixed Wild-Shaped boars and cats not paying proper attention to the 'Look at Camera' option.
Fixed a 'FileSystem error' potentially triggering for users who use non-Latin Windows user accounts when trying to save a screenshot using Photo Mode.
UI and Tooltips
Fixed inconsistent damage values on the Booming Blade tooltips at higher levels.
Fixed a bug causing certain skill tooltips to not appear when you hover over them unless you pin them.
Fixed a Twitch extension bug causing the overlays to disappear on Twitch as soon as you click on them.
Hotfix #30 Now Live!
Hey everyone,
A small hotfix is now rolling out, bringing multiple cross-play fixes and patching up some instances of crashing. Certain betentacled individuals will now be more amenable to having their picture taken – give us a smile, petal!
While Patch 8 was the last major patch for Baldur’s Gate 3, we will continue to release small hotfixes addressing bugs in the game. If you have come across any issues, please make sure to report them to our Support Team.
Missed out on what’s new on Patch 8? Read all about it here!
MODDING
Fixed an incorrect 'Missing XAML' error message showing up in the main menu after deleting mods and switching input mode from keyboard and mouse to controller.
Fixed Mod Manager reports coming through to mod authors from seemingly anonymous users, even if those users were logged in properly.
Fixed a scrolling issue on the Mod Details page on mods with lots of tags.
GAME
Gameplay and Scripting
Fixed the wrong range on Divine Allegiance – it now triggers within standard melee range as indicated in the tooltip.
Fixed an issue with the way the Gloves of Battlemage's Power interact with dual-wielded weapons.
Fixed a bug causing paladins to lose their Auras after a Long Rest.
The War Priest attack will no longer disable if the character moves before attacking.
Tavern Brawler no longer adds a damage bonus to Elemental Cleaver's elemental damage in Honour Mode.
Fixed a bug where, if you told the goblins at Moonrise Towers to sacrifice themselves, the subsequent cinematic wouldn't play correctly and the goblins would become uninteractable.
Fixed a bug preventing camera movement with WASD while Shift is pressed.
Polearm Clout now properly gains bonuses to its weapon damage from various sources.
Weapons bound using Pact of the Blade or Hexblade now properly use the Charisma modifier for the Polearm Clout attack.
Magical Ambush, Skilled Skullduggery, and Lethal Concealment no longer keep disappearing while sneaking.
Recasting Cloudkill after upcasting it to Level 6 will now cast the correct upcasted version. Also fixed the upcasted Cloudkill visuals.
Updated Shadow Blade to only give Advantage to melee weapon attacks made while the Shadow Blade is equipped.
Cross-Play
Fixed a bug where the client would get stuck in a loading screen when attempting to join a cross-play lobby uninvited.
Fixed a bug letting you enable cross-play and invite players while in a non-cross-play session if you accessed the settings via the escape menu.
Fixed a bug letting users try to join the lobby in the friends panel before the lobby list was updated.
Fixed an issue causing cross-play hosts to get stuck at 0% loading if a client joins the game while the host is in the cinematic after Character Creation.
Added a timeout that will bring you back to the main menu if your attempt to join a cross-play game fails.
If your connection is interrupted on PC and you get the 'Online features are disabled' message, your online session settings will now be disabled as indicated. This mimics the existing flow on consoles.
Improved the handling of network disconnections for cross-play.
Made username character limits consistent across platforms.
Photo Mode
Fixed the 'Highlights' setting not working properly on consoles.
Fixed the 'Mirror' option on Photo Mode appearing in English across the localised versions of the game.
Fixed a bug preventing you from selecting Tavflayer or Karlachflayer in the Photo Mode settings.
New Subclasses
Kills made while drunk as a Way of the Drunken Master monk now count towards the Punch Drunk achievement. It's only fair.
Updated the description for the Shadow Infusion condition tooltips, which still had developer text in them.
The chance to inflict Hexblade's Curse on a hit no longer increases every time the Warlock uses Bind Hexed Weapon.
Circle of the Stars druids can now gain the additional Wild Shapes (Deep Rothé, Panther, Owlbear, Dilophosaurus).
UI
Fixed the Bonus Action icon missing on controller tooltips for some players with modded games.
Fixed the 'Choices Pending!' message showing up during Character Creation after disabling a mod related to colour choices when randomising a character's appearance.
On controller, briefly delayed the cursor selection on mods in the Mod Verification window until the list of mods has properly loaded.
Fixed some missing Action Resource icons when pinning tooltips on controller.
Prevented switching between controller and keyboard and mouse when the game is already switching.
Fixed the Spell Slot resource not showing up on tooltips in the Prepare Spells tab during Level Up.
Fixed a UI bug caused by opening the Action and Menu radials at the same time.
Fixed the Surge Accuracy tooltip not linking out correctly to the Action Surge tooltip.
Fixed the Quickened Mage Hand tooltip not linking out correctly to the Mage Hand tooltip.
Fixed the tooltips for instruments missing information.
Fixed a bug on controller where the selection box around tooltips would be larger than the tooltips themselves.
Performance
Fixed some input delays on PS5 split-screen when both players are editing their Dream Guardian.
Fixed a performance issue on M4 Macs causing stuttering in crowded areas.
Fixed the game window freezing on Mac when launching the game without an internet connection.
Launcher
Sending a report through the Larian Crash Reporter no longer deletes the files containing your saved settings.
Audio
Fixed the Shadow Blade SFX looping itself.
Animation and Cinematics
Fixed lovely Buthir's arms getting glued to one spot during gameplay.
Fixed a bug in a dialogue with Kagha at the Emerald Grove where she would glide across the ground on teeny tiny legs.
Crashes and Blockers
Fixed a crash when switching from controller to keyboard and mouse after selecting 'Venture Forth'.
Fixed a potential blocker in some savegames where, somehow, an Aura was stored in the savegame without a valid cause.
Fixed a potential crash when dragging corpses' portraits onto the Party Line.
Fixed a potential crash when immediately activating a controller during game startup.
Fixed a potential crash related to multiplayer.
Fixed a potential crash when launching on Vulkan on Snapdragon devices.
Fixed a potential UI-related crash.
Fixed a potential crash related to the dialogue UI.
The Final Patch: New Subclasses, Photo Mode, and Cross-Play
[table] [tr] [th]Patch 8 is now live! For the full patch notes, please click here.[/th][/tr][table]
Well folks,
This is it. Our final major game patch for Baldur’s Gate 3.
You’ve helped us make BG3 a bigger success than any of us could’ve ever hoped for, and that passion could keep us tweaking things and making changes until the end of time. But then we’d never be able to create something new.
Outside of minor bug fixing, Patch 8 will be the last game patch to introduce new content. That means we won’t be adding any new narrative content or significant changes to storylines, Origin characters, or companions. We’ve told our stories the way we needed to tell them, and tried our best to make them impactful and engaging, and we’re continuing to get better at handling our own chaos so that we can continue to create more chaos in the future.
From the start, your feedback has been incredibly important to us, and will continue to shape our future projects. As Swen said during the Baldur’s Gate 3 retrospective panel at PAX West in August of last year, it’s time for the team to go back to our cave and hang the armour on the wall while we focus on bringing you our next project.
If you’re already feeling nostalgic, you can click here to watch our last Baldur’s Gate 3 panel, where we looked back on Baldur’s Gate 3, from early access through to release, and answered some of your questions.
From patching in a way to change your appearance with the Magic Mirror, introducing Honour Mode for those of you looking for a hard time, and giving you new ways to make out with your romanced companion, to new cinematics for your most evil runs, and handing you the tools to create your own supported mods, Patch 8 now rounds off with cross-play, Photo Mode, and 12 new subclasses for you to enjoy.
To help us close the door on our last major patch, the party are back with their final animated short in collaboration with Spud Gun Studios - with a special appearance by the man in metal himself: Swen in his animated debut!
Patch 8
Now let’s talk about what's new with our final patch!
Steam Trading Cards
Baldur’s Gate 3 now supports Steam Trading Cards! And you thought you’d never get them. Collect the unique trading cards to craft badges, and unlock exclusive profile backgrounds and emoticons to use anywhere on Steam! Speaking of Steam, Baldur’s Gate 3 is now on sale with 20% off until April 21st:
Players on PC, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 will now all be able to enjoy Baldur’s Gate 3 multiplayer, with full cross-platform progression and cross-play.
Using the Larian Network, you can now join and create cross-play lobbies to take on your adventures together.
Cross-Play & Mods
You’ll be able to continue to enjoy creating chaos with mods in cross-play, but it’s important to note that all players joining the lobby must have the same version of mods installed. When joining a host’s game, you’ll be prompted with the Mod Verification window to enable, upgrade, downgrade, or install any missing mods.
If you are a PC player creating a cross-play lobby, keep in mind you can use the “Available on Console & Mac” tag to browse mods that will be compatible with consoles and Mac, and that the mod limit on consoles is 100. Third-party mods cannot be used on consoles.
Using Cross-Play
First things first, make sure everyone has their platform account connected to their Larian account. You can do this by going to https://larian.com/account/connected and connecting your account.
Once that's done, it's time to make sure cross-play is enabled by following these steps:
From the Main Menu, select "Options"
Under the Gameplay tab, scroll down until you see "Allow Cross-Play", and check the box
Add friends to your account by:
Clicking the "Account Management" icon from the right-hand side of the Main Menu screen
Select Friend List
Click on "Add Friends" and enter their username
You can then send them a Friend Request
For more details on how to add friends, please click here.
If you want your friends to join you in an existing save, you'll need to make sure the save you want to use has cross-play enabled.
To check this, go to Load Game from the Main Menu
Select the save game you'd like to enable cross-play on, and look for the check the box to enable cross-play
Load the save game
Once in your save, navigate to Multiplayer and invite your friend!
You can also create a new cross-play multiplayer lobby by following these steps:
Access Multiplayer
Select “Cross-Play”
Select “Create”
Customise your options and select “Launch”
To join another player in multiplayer via cross-play:
On the main menu, select “Multiplayer”
Select the “Cross-Play” tab
Join the other player’s lobby
If you or the host are using mods and there are any discrepancies, the Mod Verification window will open to inform you of which mods need installing, uninstalling, or updating
Get started with cross-play by following our video guide, and check out this article for more details.
Photo Mode
Position and pose your party, play around with camera settings, and whack a few stickers on there. Photo Mode is now yours to explore with Patch 8!
Getting Started
To test out Photo Mode, toggle it on or off by pressing down on both analog sticks if on console, or by pressing F9 if on PC. You can also enable Photo Mode by clicking on the Photo Mode icon on the HUD minimap.
Exploring Camera Settings
When you’re adventuring with your party, you’ll be able to alter their positioning and try different facial expressions and poses, while making the most of the camera, lens, and scene settings, even during combat encounters.
While you won’t be able to change the position of your party or camera angle during dialogues and cinematic scenes, you will still be able to enjoy a range of post-processing effects, including colour-grading settings, frames, and stickers.
Photo Mode & Modding
Speaking of stickers, Photo Mode already includes more than 300 stickers, but keen modders out there will be able to create and upload their own via the BG3 Toolkit!
Your Photo Mode Creations
We’ve been loving the Photo Mode shots you’ve been submitting during the stress test, and thought they deserved to be shared!
Submitted by Yve Flynn in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Submitted by Nyxxy in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Submitted by Daz in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Submitted by bg3ishwondergoth in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Submitted by red_dragon_bish in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Submitted by Puriti in the Larian Studios Discord Server.
Finding Your Screenshots
Capture your favourite moments forever and find them saved in your respective media galleries for Xbox and PlayStation, and in C:\Users\[username]\Documents\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\Screenshots for PC, or ~/Pictures/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/Screenshots for Mac.
We know budding photographers will already be plotting the ways in which you can take photos of your companions in compromising positions, so if you’re looking for some tips and tricks to get started using Photo Mode, check out the video below!
One new subclass for each playable class is now available, featuring new abilities, animations, VFX, unique summons, powerful cantrips, and voiced dialogue for the Oathbreaker Knight for those playing as the Oath of the Crown Paladin subclass!
Packed with new ways for you to play, whether you want to roleplay the God of Thunder by using Elemental Cleaver, imbuing your Path of the Giant Barbarian’s hammer with shocking damage and flinging it out for it to come back to you, or as a drunken monk, with truly homebrewed abilities that will enhance your next playthrough, there’s surely a subclass for you!
Path of the Giant Barbarian
College of Glamour Bard
Death Domain Cleric
Circle of Stars Druid
Arcane Archer Fighter
Way of the Drunken Master Monk
Oath of the Crown Paladin
Swarmkeeper Ranger
Swashbuckler Rogue
Shadow Magic Sorcerer
Hexblade Warlock
Bladesinging Wizard
Unlocking The New Subclasses
Each new subclass can be selected once you have reached the level required to unlock it. This varies depending on your chosen class. Check out the table below to see when subclass selection becomes available for each class!
For a more detailed breakdown of each subclass and to help you settle into Patch 8, check out the videos in the below playlist. While this might be our final major patch, it’s certainly not the last time you’re going to hear from us! Tune into Twitch tomorrow to watch our first live stream hosted by Aoife Wilson, featuring a guest appearance from Senior Systems Designer, Ross Stephens, where we’ll be taking a closer look at Patch 8, including the new subclasses!
There will be more to come as we welcome you behind the scenes of Baldur’s Gate 3, sharing some secrets and introducing the developers who helped make it, with a new stream every Wednesday from 1pm UTC. Hopefully that’ll keep you occupied until we can reveal what comes next… we promise we’ll share more on that when we can.
[TAG-140]
Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding
Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit
As well as Patch 8, the Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding Toolkit is receiving an update, which means mod authors will now be able to explore partial level editing! Whether you fancy creating your own NPC, dropping a metric ton of carrots across every existing level just for the sake of it, pledging your undying love to Shadowheart by turning all wolves into bunny rabbits or by moving them to the House of Hope, you’ll now be able to use the Toolkit to add or override certain template types in existing levels.
Partial level editing means that what you won’t be able to do with the official Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit is add dialogues or change the static parts of the world like buildings, scenery or terrain. You can, however, create your own interactive objects like a chest that teleports away every time you get close to it - no one will touch your belongings ever again! Including you. Or you could make a salami statue that you can put in your pocket. The world truly is yours.
Modding Guidelines Update
To support the new realm of possibilities with the latest Toolkit update, we have now updated the modding guidelines with new information, and will continue curating mods for console. As part of this update, we have reviewed technical requirements, and unfortunately, mods that introduce new playable races are unable to be curated for console. If you’re a mod author, we suggest giving the guidelines a read by clicking here.
UI Functionality Improvements
We have been continuing to work closely with mod authors to ensure there are fewer conflicts between game mods and new patches, particularly for those that have ImpUI as a dependency. While the ImpUI mod isn’t currently being maintained, to help keep things running smoothly and to support the creative passion of those in the modding community, we’ve introduced minor changes to how some functionalities are handled in the Toolkit. Now, mod authors will be able to make changes directly for mods that rely on UI tweaks during Character Creation.
The changes now supported natively in the Toolkit include:
Action Resources
Racial spells at LevelUp
Race passives
UI scrolling for Heads, Passives, Equipment, Class, Subclass, and Origin selection
Feat passives
Radial customisation and descriptions
Thank you to Djmr for their incredible work on this mod and for keeping in contact with us while we resolved the conflicts and introduced this functionality, as well as Caites, both who have been particularly helpful, and whose names now lie firmly in the Baldur’s Gate 3 game credits, along with the mod authors who have been helping us test Toolkit functionality!
Mods In Patch 8
As Patch 8 begins to roll out, please remain patient and respectful of those in the community who put work into creating their mods. Some things might not work immediately after a new update and it might take a little while before a mod can be updated. If you can’t wait to dive in but are worried about your mod list, we recommend starting a new playthrough to enjoy the new subclasses and to try out photo mode.
Patch Notes
Along with the new additions, Patch 8 also tackles a range of bugs, like fixing Shadowheart’s penchant for hair dye while skinny dipping, Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region, and we’ve resolved an issue with the moving platform in the Gauntlet of Shar that has accidentally proven harder to survive than, well, the actual Gauntlet of Shar.
HIGHLIGHTS
Photo Mode
12 brand new subclasses – one for each class, including: Path of the Giant Barbarian, College of Glamour Bard, Death Domain Cleric, Circle of Stars Druid, Arcane Archer Fighter, Way of the Drunken Master Monk, Oath of the Crown Paladin, Swarmkeeper Ranger, Swashbuckler Rogue, Shadow Magic Sorcerer, Hexblade Warlock, and Bladesinging Wizard
Cross-play
Xbox Series S split screen
Gameplay
Fixed containers inside inventories not scattering their contents when they get destroyed, which could potentially lead to key quest items getting lost for good.
Fixed an issue where picking up items from the ground in multiplayer could then block movement via the controller stick.
Fixed the Wild Shape: Panther's Prowl action and Prowling condition not working correctly.
When you succeed a Perception check, the spotted item will now ping on the minimap and be listed in the combat log.
Fixed an issue where the special abilities of some of your allies weren't properly provided at the end of the dialogue with them at High Hall.
Scrolls and potions inside unlocked containers in your party inventory can now be used when rolling in dialogues.
Neutral and friendly NPCs will no longer become hostile when, outside of combat, they walk into surfaces created during combat that trigger passives (like electrified surfaces triggering Thunderbolt Strike). Take it easy, lads.
Fixed Freecast being reset when any condition is applied.
Fixed characters getting stuck when pathfinding via a ladder that's already in use by another companion.
Fixed a bug with the moving platform in the Gauntlet of Shar that would sometimes leave you behind, causing you to plummet to your death.
The Self-Same Trial in the Gauntlet of Shar will now offer a proper challenge to those using modded classes.
Fixed an error when joining a game via a friend invite on Xbox.
Fixed War Magic being active before Extra Attack, forcing the player to use a bonus action before getting access to other Extra Attacks.
Eldritch Knights now properly use free Extra Attacks before their War Magic attack.
Fixed Valiant Damage not triggering properly.
Fixed an issue with Shadow Blade spells and the Knife of the Undermountain King dagger not granting Advantage against an obscured target.
Fixed a bug where moving the controller sticks in specific directions wouldn't register any input.
Fixed Jhannyl's Gloves not correctly triggering the Defy Villainy passive that casts Lesser Restoration.
Updated Elemental Weapon to allow all damage types at all spell levels and include upcast benefits at Levels 5 and 6.
Examining in-world surfaces with the 'Pin Tooltip' keybind now correctly displays the tooltip.
Fixed a bug causing keyboard input to block if you spam the Level Up button and the Esc key.
Fixed a potential blocker causing mouse input to get disabled when clicking an enemy's portrait as they die.
Fixed a blocker when a follower or summon used the Scrying Eyes in the Iron Throne.
Fixed a blocker when you tried to use any item while your character was Knocked Down.
Fixed the game freezing when dragging items while trading or bartering.
Fixed a multiplayer issue where the host would get a black screen for 15 seconds when transitioning to a crime dialogue.
Fixed an Honour Mode issue at High Hall where all party members would die when reaching the top of the stem if anyone in the party was being dominated by an enemy, causing a Game Over.
Fixed the skiff at the Morphic Pool sometimes appearing in the wrong spot or floating in the air.
Fixed body type 1 duergar incorrectly receiving halfling stats instead of dwarf stats.
Fixed Gimblebock getting stuck if his attack triggered a Reaction.
Fixed characters not being able to pick up any items if an invalid pickup request was, somehow, stored in the savegame.
Fixed a bug causing non-Dark-Urge avatars to say Dark Urge lines. You're not all obliged to be wretched things with headaches.
Fixed a bug where difficulty and game settings wouldn't save properly when adjusted after experiencing a Game Over in Honour Mode.
Combat
Fixed an issue causing neutral NPCs to trigger combat for seemingly no reason.
Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region. An eager beaver no longer.
Fixed a bug causing damage riders to be added multiple times in Honour Mode.
Fixed Sneak Attack not activating for actions that spawn additional projectiles, like Curving Shot.
Modding
Fixed an issue causing you to get stuck at a 0% loading screen when attempting to join a multiplayer session that uses mods.
The Mod Verification window will now trigger regardless of where the request to connect to a multiplayer game is coming from.
Replaced the third-party mod warning with clearer messaging.
Fixed a mod issue preventing some modded classes and subclasses from levelling up.
Fixed a bug causing the Mod Verification window to appear empty and preventing you from closing it if you get a warning about insufficient storage before it opens.
You can now navigate between the left and right columns of the Installed tab in the Mod Manager with a controller.
Improved Character Creation functionality for modded games.
The Mod Verification window will now also appear on PC for console-related mod issues to account for cross-play.
Performance and Options
The Steam Deck's default FSR setting is now FSR 2.2 on 'Quality'.
Fixed the ruleset selector not appearing on the 'Alter Custom Mode' screen when accessing the ruleset settings via the multiplayer lobby.
Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
Scripting and Flow
With 12 new subclasses arriving in Patch 8, we’ve rechecked some achievements, including ensuring the armed version of Stunning Strike no longer counts as an unarmed attack for the Fists of Fury achievement, and its unarmed variant now does.
Monks' Unarmed Strike bonus action now also correctly counts toward the Action Surge achievement.
Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel has been looking for him even if Gandrel refused to tell you the name of his prey.
Fixed a savegame issue where you wouldn't get the appropriate amount of Umbral Gems for the Gauntlet of Shar.
Halsin will now show up to your camp in Act II as long as you saved him, even if you happened to skip the celebration with the tieflings at camp.
Minthara now comments on the Emperor's reveal.
Reminded Minthara that 'knocked out' does not mean 'dead', so she'll more reliably appear in Moonrise Towers.
You can no longer teleport out of Moonrise while controlling Minthara unless you tell her to stay put.
Minthara is now willing to talk to you after you tell her to wait in the torture chamber.
Minthara no longer gets stuck babysitting Thaniel in Act II.
Fixed an issue where you could talk about Art Cullagh as though he's alive even if he isn't.
Your character will no longer think Shadowheart is dead if she isn't when talking to Viconia.
Characters who were in a relationship with Gale when he sacrifices himself in the endgame to defeat the Netherbrain will now receive a tonally appropriate (read: lovey-dovey) letter that was missing.
Fixed a dialogue issue preventing Avatar Gale from talking about the orb to Lae'zel after consuming a magic item.
You should no longer be able to ask Shadowheart about her Shar worship after recruiting her at the Goblin Camp if you don't know about her faith.
Shadowheart's wound flare during the Arabella scene in the Emerald Grove will not be considered to have triggered when Shadowheart wasn't present in the dialogue.
Fixed various Background Goals that weren't triggering.
Animation
Added dance animations for some creatures that didn't have it, like ettercaps, kobolds, and harpies.
Art
Fixed an issue causing the Flaming Fist armour to clip and generally freak out a bit.
Fixed some clipping and textural issues with the Barbarian starting armour when worn by body type 1 gnomes.
Fixed the Cleric starting armour bouncing around a little too much when worn by body type 1 characters.
UI
Discovered and available (non-hostile, alive, etc.) traders are now shown on the world map regardless of how far away you are from them.
Fixed button or keyboard shortcut inputs in the UI sometimes not working.
Fixed some Reaction tooltips like Divine Allegiance not showing some values correctly in the description.
Fixed a bug causing the UI to lock up when rapidly switching between keyboard and mouse input and controller input.
Fixed a bug where opening the Main Menu on controller wouldn't automatically select the 'Resume' option at the top of the menu.
Fixed a bug where you'd have to deselect your current passive when respeccing a character before selecting a new one. Now, you can just click the new one.
Mentioned the damage that Corrosive Spit deals in its condition tooltip.
Updated the names of the condition tooltips for the Dilophosaurus wild shape's Corrosive Spray spell, adding 'Dissolving' and 'Dissolved' for clarity.
The Tides of Chaos passive tooltip now correctly states that it only works for ability checks.
Updated the Lifedrinker tooltip to match functionality; it does not require Pact of the Blade.
Rephrased the Hexblade's Curse tooltip to prevent the technical text '+ProficiencyBonus' from appearing in Character Creation and Level Up.
The Acolyte of Nature passive tooltip now shows up in the Character Sheet as
Fixed the controller UI not accurately showing when you're logged into your Larian Account, which could cause cross-play connection issues.
Fixed the multiplayer session manager panel not populating properly for players that connected while the panel was open.
Fixed a bug where if a user tried to join your session while you were filling out a user report, cancelling the request would close the report window in the background instead of cancelling the request.
Fixed the body type slider sometimes skipping through a choice on controller.
Fixed the 'No savegames available.' message showing up in the background while the game is loading the list of saved games on controller.
Updated the credits to include developers who have worked on the game since release, playtesters, moderators, and Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit testers. Also updated the order of the voice actor credits to prioritise larger roles at the top.
Fixed a bug causing an empty text-input panel to pop up and block gameplay.
Fixed an '%%% Empty' passive feature appearing for rogues during Character Creation.
Fixed a 1-frame glitch where swapping between two party members' Inventories would briefly show the first character's equipment in the inventory of the second character.
Fixed the tooltips for the combat log not consistently appearing on controller even if you have the tooltips toggled on.
Fixed a bug preventing you from pasting special characters into the password form when logging into your Larian Account.
The filters in the multiplayer lobby now filter properly.
Fixed the generic icon for some passive features missing from their tooltips in the Character Sheet.
Fixed visual issues with the white translucent VFX that appears over portraits in the Party Line, caused when dragging one character's portrait over another's.
Fixed the character tooltips that appear beside character portraits on the Party Line not showing up correctly on hover.
Fixed a tooltip bug while trading where hovering over any equipped item would display a faulty tooltip, but trying a second time would magically fix it. The tooltips now populate correctly the first time around.
Fixed a bug causing the sliders in the Gameplay options to autoscroll continuously when the left stick is flicked to the left or right.
Fixed an issue causing the game to freeze for a second when switching between two characters with the Character Sheet open.
Fixed a bug on controller preventing you from scrolling through the spells in the Replace Spell UI when levelling up.
Fixed the footwear slot in the Character Sheet deciding to just not show up.
Fixed the ‘Venture Forth’ text shaking during Character Creation while the button is held down on controller.
Sound
Added a new spot where the easter egg song plays. Happy hunting!
Restored some of the original music from the scene with Ansur before its rework.
Cinematics
Shadowheart has agreed to stop repeatedly changing her hair colour during certain intimate moments.
Tidied up and improved some cinematic animations for characters of different heights if you kiss during the evil ending.
Fixed the VO getting cut off prematurely for githyanki and drow characters entering the Shadow-Cursed Lands for the first time.
Writing
Fixed a duplicated dialogue option and the wrong version of another dialogue option appearing in Minthara's main party dialogue.
Multiplayer
Fixed a crash on the client's end when a local host attempts to start split screen.
Fixed a bug preventing you from logging back into your Larian Account after losing internet connection.
Fixed a bug preventing a host from inviting a client whose game is suspended to the multiplayer lobby. The client would instead get a persistent 'Please wait...' message.
Fixed an issue causing random session time-outs and disconnects for multiplayer clients.
Fixed a loop on PS5 that would keep taking you back to the PlayStation Plus upgrade screen if you try to join a lobby without permissions.
Community Update #33 - Patch 8 Stress Test Now Live
Hiya hiya,
If you want to stay in the loop on all our news and updates, we’re now shouting into the void from even more corners of the internet. You might have noticed our slumbering BlueSky account is dusted off and now active. Then our Community Team took the next most natural step and joined Tumblr - because if the gang are going to star in a thousand slow-burn romance fics, we might as well be there to see it. In other news, some of you on PS5 might have accidentally stumbled into Patch 8 a little early - whoops! If you’re one of the few wondering what the heck is going on, don’t worry. You can roll back to Patch 7 by deleting and reinstalling the game. Full details here, click away. Think of it as a time-travel mechanic.
And with that, the Patch 8 stress test is in fact now live for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC!
If you’ve registered to take part on either PlayStation or PC, look out for an email from us with your game code and details on how to access the stress test.
If you’ve registered through the Xbox Insider Programme, the Baldur’s Gate 3 Stress Test application is now live in the Xbox Insider Hub, for you to download! For more details on this, please click here.
To learn more about how to set up a cross-play lobby and discover the bug fixes arriving in Patch 8, please read on!
Cross-Play
During the Patch 8 stress test, Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players will be able to test out cross-play by either creating or joining a lobby.
If you want to try out cross-play with your friends on other platforms and have now been given access to the stress test but your friends haven’t, you can request extra Patch 8 stress test keys for PlayStation and Steam (PC) by heading to: https://larian.com/account/connected and linking your game account with your Larian account.
Check out the handy video below for a step-by-step on getting set up with cross-play!
After enabling cross-play from the multiplayer online settings, you’ll be able to either create or join your own cross-play multiplayer lobby. Head to the Multiplayer menu, select Cross-Play and create your lobby!
For the Patch 8 stress test, we recommend that console players host a cross-play lobby if wanting to play with a PC player.
You can add friends using the Larian Network by clicking on the + icon from the Create Lobby screen during cross-play set-up. Enter their Larian account username and send the request! Once they have accepted it, you will be able to view them online and invite them to your lobby.
Playing with mods during cross-play:
While we recommend that console players host a cross-play lobby, if you're looking to join a modded PC lobby, the PC host must have less than 100 mods installed on that save and only include mods that are accepted on console and Mac, which are indicated by the “Available on Mac and Console” tag when browsing available mods. Otherwise, a mod mismatch will be detected, and you will not be able to join the host’s game.
Xbox Series S Split-Screen Co-Op
Wanting to play multiplayer a little closer to home? Patch 8 will also bring split-screen to Xbox Series S consoles! If you’re joining the stress test from an Xbox, you’ll be able to try this out early. Register For The Patch 8 Stress Test
The stress test is now live, and if you’ve already registered on either PlayStation or PC, access details will be sent to your email inbox. If you’re playing on Xbox, you’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub App to become an Xbox Insider and join the playtest from the app.
If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still register your interest by clicking on the banner below!
[table][tr][th]Please note: Access will be granted in waves throughout the testing period. Registering your interest through the web form does not guarantee you will be given access.[/th][/tr][/table]
Patch 8 Highlights
While some of you will get to try out Patch 8 for yourself, starting today, here’s just some of what you can expect with Patch 8 once it is ready for release!
Highlights
Photo mode
12 new subclasses
Cross-play
Xbox Series S split screen
Gameplay
When you succeed a Perception check, the spotted item will now ping on the minimap and be listed in the combat log.
Fixed an issue where the special abilities of some of your allies weren't properly provided at the end of the dialogue with them at High Hall.
Scrolls and potions inside unlocked containers in your party inventory can now be used when rolling in dialogues.
Neutral and friendly NPCs will no longer become hostile when, outside of combat, they walk into surfaces created during combat that trigger passives (like electrified surfaces triggering Thunderbolt Strike). Take it easy, lads.
Fixed Freecast being reset when any condition is applied.
Fixed characters getting stuck when pathfinding via a ladder that's already in use by another companion.
Fixed a bug with the moving platform in the Gauntlet of Shar that would sometimes leave you behind, causing you to plummet to your death.
Combat
Fixed an issue causing neutral NPCs to trigger combat for seemingly no reason.
Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region. An eager beaver no longer.
Modding
Fixed an issue causing you to get stuck at a 0% loading screen when attempting to join a multiplayer session that uses mods.
The Mod Verification window will now trigger regardless of where the request to connect to a multiplayer game is coming from.
Replaced the third-party mod warning with clearer messaging.
Performance and Options
Fixed the ruleset selector not appearing on the 'Alter Custom Mode' screen when accessing the ruleset settings via the multiplayer lobby.
Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
Scripting and Flow
Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel has been looking for him even if Gandrel refused to tell you the name of his prey.
Fixed a savegame issue where you wouldn't get the appropriate amount of Umbral Gems for the Gauntlet of Shar.
Minthara now comments on the Emperor's reveal.
Reminded Minthara that 'knocked out' does not mean 'dead', so she'll more reliably appear in Moonrise Towers.
You can no longer teleport out of Moonrise while controlling Minthara unless you tell her to stay put.
Minthara is now willing to talk to you after you tell her to wait in the torture chamber.
Minthara no longer gets stuck babysitting Thaniel in Act II.
Fixed an issue where you could talk about Art Cullagh as though he's alive even if he isn't.
Your character will no longer think Shadowheart is dead if she isn't when talking to Viconia.
Characters who were in a relationship with Gale when he sacrifices himself in the endgame to defeat the Netherbrain will now receive a tonally appropriate (read: lovey-dovey) letter.
Fixed a dialogue issue preventing Avatar Gale from talking about the orb to Lae'zel after consuming a magic item.
UI
Discovered and available (non-hostile, alive, etc.) traders are now shown on the world map regardless of how far away you are from them.
Cinematics
Shadowheart has agreed to stop repeatedly changing her hair colour during certain intimate moments.
Tidied up and improved some cinematic animations for characters of different heights if you kiss during the evil ending.
Writing
Fixed a duplicated dialogue option and the wrong version of another dialogue option appearing in Minthara's main party dialogue.
Patch 8 will bring a multitude of fixes for various crashes and blockers, combat bugs, scripting and flow issues, and more. The full patch notes will be shared once Patch 8 goes live!
Reporting Bugs During The Stress Test
Internal playtesting has been ongoing for several weeks now, and thanks to the introduction of photo mode in Patch 8, our playtesters have discovered new means to highlight some interesting issues.
While we don’t expect you to showcase every unexpected bug you run into (please, don’t do that), we would be grateful if you could report any issues you experience in the Patch 8 stress test using the existing bug reporting form. Please make sure to state “Patch 8” in the Game Version field!
Known Issues
As the Patch 8 stress test is a work-in-progress build, we’re aware of some issues, and have listed the ones relevant to the new features coming in Patch 8 below!
Modding
While it’s our hope that supported mods remain mostly unscathed with Patch 8, this stress test also helps us understand how your mods interact with the latest patch and identify any issues ahead of release.
ImpUI users may find that radial descriptions aren’t visible, and some menu options don’t work as intended. If you are joining us for the stress test, we recommend creating a new save or loading an existing save that does not use ImpUI or any mods that use ImpUI as a dependency.
Photo Mode
Photo Mode becomes visually corrupted when using Vulkan.
Cross-Play & Multiplayer
Some lines in the cross-play settings aren’t fully localised.
Players in a multiplayer lobby can lose movement input after picking up an item.
UX
Some keyboard hotkeys and controller buttons may stop working after trading with merchants.
Keep an eye out for updates during the Patch 8 stress test as we continue working on fixing these issues!
Sharing Your Experience
We want to know how you get on with Patch 8, so we have created a short form for you to share your experience with us. If you’ve been accepted into the stress test, look out for the link in your access email!
And with that, we’ll catch you next time.
Community Update #32 Get Ready For The Patch 8 Stress Test!
Good news, everyone! It’s January. The world has finished another lazy rotation around the Sun, and as you’re gazing into the murky horizon of 2025 like a groundhog in search of Spring, we’re hard at work to bring you your next excuse to return to Faerûn. Patch 8 is still moving along nicely, but before we let you in on the upcoming stress test to try your hand at breaking things, we’re adding some finishing touches and working with our partners to ensure you can fully test cross-play. We hope to let you into the Patch 8 stress test towards the end of this month.
Today’s community update is here to remind you of what’s arriving in our final major patch and uses the upcoming photo mode to celebrate some of the creations you’ve shared with us during our journey together. Someone grab the tissue, it can’t really be the end, can it?
Try Out Cross-Play With The Patch 8 Stress Test
Imagine a world, healed from all its pain, where Xbox, PlayStation, and PC gamers can finally be free of the barriers that once separated them. Finally, in Patch 8, no matter what platform, we can all come together in BG3 and unite in what matters: kissing weird guys and heaving goblins off cliffs.
During the Patch 8 stress test, registered Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players will be able to test out cross-play by either creating or joining a lobby and inviting friends through the Larian Network. With such a large technical feature being implemented, we’re keen to see how you get on with cross-play during the stress test so that we can make any small changes before Patch 8 is released!
While cross-play with Mac will be available from launch, unfortunately, Mac players won’t be able to take part in the stress test this time.
Register Now
If you’ve not yet signed up to take part in the Patch 8 stress test to help test things out, you can still register your interest by clicking on the banner with the handsome feller below!
Want to join the stress test from an Xbox? You’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub App to become an Xbox Insider and join the playtest from the app once the stress test begins to go live.
[table][tr][th]Please note: Access will be granted in waves throughout the testing period. Registering your interest through the web form does not guarantee you will be given access.[/th][/tr][/table]
Arriving With Patch 8
The final major patch for Baldur’s Gate 3 is right around the corner and will deliver several hotly anticipated features, including cross-play, photo mode, and 12 new subclasses, which you can read more about in Community Update #30.
Incoming Bug Fixes
Along with the new features, we’re continuing to clean up animation pops, clipping, and have fixed bugs, including the likes of:
Fixed a savegame issue where you wouldn't get the appropriate amount of Umbral Gems for the Gauntlet of Shar.
Fixed an issue causing you to get stuck at a 0% loading screen when attempting to join a multiplayer session that uses mods.
Your character will no longer think Shadowheart is dead if she isn't when talking to Viconia.
Halsin will now show up to your camp in Act II as long as you save him, even if you happen to skip the celebration with the tieflings at camp.
Improved performance in the Adamantine Forge.
Minthara will now comment on the Emperor's reveal.
Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region. An eager beaver no longer.
We’ve also reminded Minthara that 'knocked out' does not mean 'dead', so she'll more reliably appear in Moonrise Towers.
Fixed companions' lines getting cut off prematurely after Gale sacrifices himself alone at the end of the game.
Fixed a bug preventing Wyll from commenting on Astarion holding a blade to your throat during Astarion's recruitment dialogue by the beach.
Barcus is no longer Mike Wazowski'd by various items like cauldrons and bottles blocking him off from view when you talk to him at Last Light.
In-Game Mod Manager Improvements
Removed the third-party mods warning and replaced it with clearer messaging.
The Mod Verification window will now trigger regardless of where the request to connect to a multiplayer game is coming from.
With plenty more fixes to be included! And don’t worry, this isn’t the end of our bug fixing.
New Subclasses
Soon there will be 12 new ways to experience Baldur’s Gate 3 - a new subclass is being added for each of the 12 classes in the game, complete with new VFX and animations that we teased in Community Update #31.
You’ve got to try out all of them, right?
When they tell me not to touch the uranium.
Photo Mode
Patch 8 also introduces photo mode, so get ready to smile for the camera, or if you’re like Karlach, stare into the middle-distance as you contemplate all your past mistakes.
While you’re adventuring around the Sword Coast, you’ll be able to toggle photo mode on or off and play around with a multitude of options for the party you’ve brought along with you, including during combat encounters. Position them to your liking, change facial expressions to fit the scene, and play around with the camera, lens, and scene settings.
During dialogues and cinematic scenes, you won’t be able to alter the camera or position your party, but you will have access to a whole bunch of post-processing effects, such as colour-grading settings, frames, and stickers, that can be used whether you’re tottering around Baldur’s Gate, or kissing your beloved.
To give you a taste of the poses available in photo mode, we’re paying homage to some of your finest memes, moments, and masterpieces. Check them out below, and be sure to drop by the original creator’s work to show your appreciation!
Get you a druid who can do both. Posted on Reddit by u/bwubwerr.
Blade of Frontiers by day, nap enthusiast by initiative order. Posted on Reddit by u/Sporshie.
Even the Astral Plane can’t save you from the midweek grind. Artwork illustrated by mintcrows on X.
This will look great over the fireplace in our pocket dimension. Posted on Reddit by u/NightwingMage.
Sweet dreams and all that. Posted to Tumblr by quacaserous.
While Patch 8 won’t allow you to romance a water elemental, you can do whatever is happening here.
The bearer of bad news. Posted to Tumblr by cyberth0t.
Don’t worry, they’ll jump down as soon as you head on back up. Posted to Reddit by u/nyesther7
But at least she looked cute doing it, right? Posted to Reddit by u/urielopos
A true critical success. A frame from the iconic animation created by 예이헴yayhem.
We’re looking forward to seeing the creativity you’ll bring once you get your hands on Patch 8!
Minimum Specifications
With Patch 7 introducing more features to Baldur’s Gate 3, and now with Patch 8 on the horizon, we have adjusted our minimum specification for Mac players. For your game to run smoothly, we recommend updating to macOS 14 (version 14.7.1) or later. If you’re running a system that cannot update to these specifications, you can continue playing Baldur’s Gate 3 up to Patch 6, by changing which game version you’re loading.
To do this:
Right Click on Baldur’s Gate 3 from your Steam Library and select Properties
From the left-hand side menu, select Betas
Use the Beta Participation drop-down option to change the beta branch to release_patch6_hf9
You will be able to continue playing saves made on Patch 6.
100 Million Mod Downloads
We’re entering 2025 with more than 100 million mods downloaded! Give yourselves a pat on the back, because that is a very nice number.
The team is also back to our regular cadence of curating mods for console, so be on the lookout for more mods being approved soon!
Community Update #31 - Patch 8 Stress Test - Register Now!
Howdy gang,
One last update to share with you before we leave you to your tryptophanic rest this holiday season.
It’s been a banner December here for Larian. Last week, you helped us take home the Best Community Support award for the second year running. Then you nominated us for the Labor of Love category in the Steam Awards 2024. And we aren’t slowing down.
Much like a certain jolly elf and his industrious band of shorter elves, Swen and team are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the Patch 8 stress test build - set to go live in January. Read on to find out how you and your friends can take part!
We’re also winding down on mod curation for consoles during the holidays, which will resume as normal once we return refreshed in the new year! (If you’re unsure about the process involved in bringing mods to consoles and the guidelines we must follow, you can check out our latest video with Aoife by clicking here!)
And if you haven't dug into our official Advent Calendar yet, you're missing out on daily puzzles, new art and wallpaper inspired by Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin, instrumentals from BG3 composer Borislav “Bobby” Slavov, and a festive poem read by none other than Amelia Tyler - in which she offends all your poetic senses by rhyming “Northdark County” with “Tim Downey”.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Now On Sale
Give the gift of cross-play, and prepare your friends for Patch 8 with Baldur’s Gate 3 now on sale with 20% off across Steam, GOG, PlayStation, and Xbox!
Available to players on Steam PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, you can now register to take part using the form linked below.
What are we looking to learn from the stress test?
A stress test aims to do exactly what it sounds like; rigorously test the latest game version to detect any instability or gameplay issues before Patch 8 releases. With your help, we’ll be able to keep an eye on any funny business.
Cross-Play
Bringing cross-play to a game the size of Baldur’s Gate 3 has been no easy task, and we want your help to test-drive this new functionality.
Share the stress test registration link to summon your friends and settle in for a cross-play campaign, or head to the Larian Studios Discord Server to look for a group to play with.
Patch 8 & Supported Mods
Supported mods should remain free of issues, however, this stress test is also a great opportunity to monitor how these mods interact with the new features Patch 8 introduces.
Discord Channels & Your Experience
Should you wish to take part, you’ll be able to submit responses in our feedback form to help us make any small tweaks and adjustments before Patch 8 is released. We’ll also have testing channels open in the Discord server, where you can call upon our Community Team for guidance installing the stress test and share information about your experience playing with Patch 8!
How can I take part in the stress test?
Whether you’re playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you now have the opportunity to register your interest to take part in the Patch 8 stress test!
Once you register, look out for a future email with details on how to access the stress test. The process will vary per platform, so please make sure all the details you’re submitting are correct.
Joining us from an Xbox? You’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub App to become an Xbox Insider and join the playtest from the app.
Please note: Registering your interest does not guarantee access!
Playing With Friends
For friends on a different platform, let them know the stress test is happening and share this link so that they can also register!
Ready? Click on the image below to sign up.
Patch 8 Stress Test FAQ
Q: Can anyone participate? A: Unfortunately, GOG and Mac players won’t be able to join us for this one.
Q: How do I register my interest to join the stress test? A: To register your interest, please follow this link: https://larian.com/stress-test-register
Q: How do I register if I am an Xbox player? A: If you’d like to join the Patch 8 stress test from your Xbox console, you’ll need to register for the Xbox Insider Programme and download the Xbox Insider Hub App. Look out for further announcements from us to know when the stress test is live!
Q: Can I stream or share footage/images from the stress test? A: Feel free to post about your experience on social media, but please let your audience know you’re showcasing playtest footage. You know, in case there are any weird bugs. Want to deck out your stream with some BG3 overlays? Download them here!
Q: Will everyone gain access to the stress test on day one? A: Access will be rolled out in waves, however, please note that registering your interest in the stress test does not guarantee access.
Q: Will my save games from the stress test work with Patch 8? A: We cannot guarantee that save games created during the stress test will remain compatible with the actual patch 8 release.
Q: Why do I need to give my location for a PlayStation code and not for other platforms? A: Playstation operates regional stores so the code you receive needs to be region specific in order to properly function. For other platforms we can issue uniform codes globally.
Divinity Original Sin I, Now 90% Off
Not ready for your adventure to end? Pick up the award winning Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition, now on sale with 90% off until January 2nd.
Take on foes in the turn-based combat you know and love, and explore a world that reacts to who you are and the choices you make, while you fight to rid the world of those who use the foulest of magics.
Got this far and still have no idea what we’ve been talking about? Check out our last community update for details on what’s coming with Patch 8, including 12 new subclasses, photo mode, and cross-play!
Now rest up, we’ll see you next year.
With love, Larian
Nominate Baldur’s Gate 3 for Labor Of Love in the Steam Awards 2024
Hello friends,
It’s that time of year again, nominations for the Steam Awards 2024 are now underway!
Should you feel like nominating Baldur’s Gate 3 in the Labor of Love category this year, we thought we’d offer a little look back at what we’ve been doing over the past 12 months.
With two new major game patches bringing continued improvements, including numerous new ways to kiss your beau, encouraging you to be naughty with new evil ending cinematics, and a custom ruleset mode to customise your gameplay experience, we also handed you the keys to creation with the Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding Toolkit, while bringing modding to console players as well.
And we’re not done yet! In case you missed it, head over to our latest Community Update to learn more about what’s coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in 2025, including Cross-play, Photo Mode, and 12 new subclasses!
This is all possible thanks to your support and passion. So if you feel like throwing some extra love our way, we would be honoured to be your nominated game in the “Labor of Love” category in the Steam Awards.
Thank you, we’ll be seeing you again real soon!
Community Update #30 Photo Mode, Cross-Play, and 12 Subclasses Coming Next Year
Like an aged mentor in an inspiring 1980s film montage, we’re filled with pride seeing all the mods you've been crafting and using since the release of our official mod tools in September. In just under three months, you've uploaded more than 3,000 mods, downloaded over 70 million, and created a spell to turn your enemies into cheese.
For those of you looking for an introduction to using mods, head over to Larian: Channel From Hell where Aoife will break things down and shine a spotlight on a few choice recommendations. While we’ll be wrapping up our feature-heavy updates for Baldur’s Gate 3 soon, this is not yet the end for our mod tools. With the continued support of mod authors in the community testing out new features, we have big updates still to come - including adding even more functionality to let you tell your own stories.
But before we bid Faerûn adieu in search of stranger shores, we have one more major patch waiting around the corner. Arriving next year, this update will introduce some of the most eagerly awaited features to BG3: cross-play, and photo mode, along with 12 new subclasses.
Let’s take a look at what you can expect to see in Patch 8!
Cross-Play
Whether you’re joining PS5 players from your PC, or jumping into a game with Mac users from your Xbox, Baldur’s Gate 3 multiplayer will soon feature full cross-platform progression, including cross-play - just as the gaming gods intended.
Once the update is live you’ll be able to invite your friends to join your cross-play lobby directly, regardless of platform and find available multiplayer lobbies with friends on other systems using the Larian Network.
On that note, Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently 20% off on Steam, GOG, and PlayStation!
Patch 8 will introduce a new way to play your favourite class, adding one new subclass for each of the existing Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock and Wizard classes in the game.
Expect new abilities, animations, VFX, summons and cantrips, and unique voiced dialogue lines for the Oathbreaker Knight with written reactivity for Oathbreakers, along with a touch of homebrewing on certain actions to enhance your role-playing experience.
Bard - College of Glamour
As a College of Glamour Bard, you’ll find you have the power to heal friends and command enemies in equal measure. Cast Mantle of Inspiration to bestow your allies with 5 temporary hit points. And should an enemy attack while it is cast, they’ll find themselves Charmed. Play your hand correctly and you’ll be able to use this to your advantage with Mantle of Majesty. Target Charmed enemies and you can command them to flee, move closer, freeze, drop to the ground, or drop their weapon.
Barbarian - Path of Giants
Opt for the Path of Giants, and your newfound giant strength will make it easier for you to yeet friend and foe alike. Forget chugging potions to pump those muscles, these Barbarians benefit from the Giant’s Rage passive that grants both strength and size - allowing you to deal additional damage with Throw attacks. Pockets weighing you down? Not for you and your increased carry capacity!
Cleric - Death Domain
As a cleric of death, you’ll find a few dark new tricks up your sleeves - from spells that specialise in necrotic damage to three new necromancy cantrips. This includes Toll The Dead, a cantrip that causes 1~8 damage when your cleric rings the bell of impending doom - a number that scales if your target has already been damaged. We’ve also added the homebrewed ability to explode nearby corpses, damaging enemies.
Druid - Circle of Stars
These Druids look to the stars for answers, accessing powers beyond those offered through the classic wildshapes. Taking on one of three Starry Forms for their power - the constellations of the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each one favours a different play style and strategy - the Archer dealing radiant damage with astral arrows, the life-giving Chalice restoring hitpoints to you and others nearby, and the wise Dragon, allowing you to deal damage with an added bonus to constitution rolls. The Starry Forms offer not just a celestial aesthetic, but practical, powerful options to enhance your role as a healer, fighter, or strategist.
Paladin - Oath of the Crown
You’ve been sworn to uphold the principles of law. Stay true to your oath and you'll be rewarded with the power to aid your allies and disrupt your foes. Guide your companions in battle with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies with strategic interrupts, and keep your party standing strong with Divine Allegiance, absorbing their damage while restoring their health.
Fighter - Arcane Archer
Mastering the dual arts of magic and marksmanship, the Arcane Archer subclass offers unique skills on top of new shooting animations. Banish foes to the Feywild, removing them from the battlefield for a turn, or unleash Psychic damage that forces enemies to make a Wisdom saving throw or be blinded until the start of their next turn.
Monk - Drunken Master
Putting the brew in homebrew, as the Drunken Master, you have the ability to consume alcohol straight from your inventory, as well as drink from bottles you see around the Sword Coast, in order to recover Ki. By sharing the bottle with your enemies using Intoxicating Strike, you’ll generate a buff towards your Armour Class and your Chance to hit Drunk targets. Drunk enemies are also susceptible to the Drunken Masters' other abilities, like Sobering Realisation - which sobers up drunk targets, dealing physical and Psychic damage.
Ranger - Swarmkeeper
The Swarmkeeper subclass provides Rangers with three kinds of deadly swarms to assist them in combat. The Cloud of Jellyfish deals extra lightning damage - potentially shocking your enemy. The Flurry of Moths deals Psychic damage, giving you the potential to Blind your enemy. The Legion of Bees deals piercing damage and forces the enemy to make a strength-saving throw or be knocked back 15ft. Each swarm also has the ability to provide you with teleportation capabilities!
Rogue - Swashbuckler
This Rogue subclass introduces a range of new actions fit for the piratical life. Play dirty by tossing sand at enemies to Blind them. Flick your weapon at a target to Disarm them. Or use your new Fancy Footwork passive while meleeing your enemy to ensure they can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
Sorcerer - Shadow Magic
As a Shadow Magic Sorcerer, you deal in a form of magic that makes you deadliest in darkness. This subclass gives its sorcerer Superior Darkvision, as well as the ability to Shadow Walk between places of dim light or darkness. It also lets you call forth the perfectly homebrewed Hound of Ill Omen to harass your foes, and use Strength of the Grave to prevent you from being downed - ideal for those attempting Honour Mode runs.
Warlock - Hexblade
Hexblade Warlocks make a pact with an entity from the Shadowfell that manifests in the form of magical weapons. Curse your enemies and force their souls to do your bidding. Slay any enemy that isn’t generally an element of nature, construct, giant blob, or already dead, and you’ll be able to raise their spirit from their corpse for ten turns. This new summon can deal necrotic damage and will rip away a chunk of your enemy’s soul to provide your Hexblade Warlock with healing.
Wizard - Bladesinging
The Bladesinging subclass merges swordplay with wizardry. Expect new spellcasting animations when casting spells with your weapon, a new Bladesong ability to grant you supernatural speed, agility, and focus, plus gives you a bonus to any Constitution saving throw you make.
Photo Mode
Finally, you can stop using pictures of fish you’ve caught on your dating profile and start snapping photos with your Hound of Ill Omen. Photo Mode is coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in Patch 8!
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Photo Mode is a little like a photo booth that lets you set up pretty much any shot you’d like. This new feature introduces a whole slew of options to let you customise and edit your in-game photography, with various levels of freedom depending on whether you’re using it while adventuring, or during combat, dialogue, and cinematic scenes.
Camera Settings
Toggleable from the HUD, located near the minimap, or by using the hotkey binding (F9 on PC, and by pressing both analog sticks at the same time on console), you’ll get to choose which character you want to take centre stage, determine their best side, and adjust the camera position to suit.
As long as they’re in your party while you’re adventuring, you’ll be able to line up your scene perfectly - including summons and those in a Wild Shape! For all budding virtual photographers, you can also turn on the camera reticle and composition grid to make sure you’re lining up the perfect shot.
Lens Settings
Determined the angle and sorted the positioning? You’ll be able to jump over to the Lens Settings where you can play around with the Field of View, Exposure, Depth of Field, and Focus.
Scene Settings
NPC ruining your shot? Toggle off either Playing, Party, NPC or Enemy characters.
Now you’re ready for your close-up! Or, if you’re feeling creative, set the scene for a full-on Faerûn musical - choose a set facial expression, plus a range of over 40 static and animated poses, each with multiple variations to help give you the perfect layout.
Internal playtesting for Patch 8 is already well underway, and we wanted to highlight just a couple of the great shots our playtesters have been grabbing using photo mode, and how they’ve chosen to edit them!
Post Processing Effects
While you won’t be able to adjust your party or play around with lens and camera settings during cinematic scenes and dialogues, you’ll be able to colour-grade your shot and experiment with contrast, saturation, highlights, brightness and vignette.
Morphic Pool, by Celia Medvescig, Playtester
Frames
Add flair to your scene with a range of different frames and letterboxing to nail those cinematic shots.
Crèche, by Michael Simard, Playtester
Stickers
Choose from over 300 stickers and add up to 30 to your scene, including emojis, icons, blood splatters, textures, objects and items, and of course, cat ears.
In your hands soon, you’ll be able to take role-play to the next level with unique combinations of poses, stickers, and frames. We can’t wait to see what absolute nightmare fuel you come up with.
A romantic moment between custom characters, by Helena Van de Veire, Playtester
Patch 8 Stress Test
With your feedback and support, our last patch brought some big changes to the game with just two bug-fixing hotfixes post-release. That’s a win in our books, and we’re looking to do the same again for Patch 8. So let’s talk stress testing!
What are we stress-testing?
This time, you’re invited to join us for a period of stress testing, where you can jump in and try out the new subclasses, explore Tav’s best angles in photo mode, and play with friends together on other platforms. Yep, this stress test will be available to those on Xbox and PlayStation, as well as PC! Why do we need to stress test Patch 8?
The goal is to go beyond our internal testing and help us catch things before they can become an issue once a patch has been released.
Along with all of the newness coming in Patch 8, we’ll also be integrating a large selection of bug fixes and polishing up cinematics, including ensuring Shadowheart’s hair dye no longer washes away when she takes a dip with her romantic partner. We’ll be sharing more on what’s been fixed in a future update!
When does the stress test begin?
We’re looking to begin testing in early January, and you’ll have the opportunity to register your interest before then. Things will be done a little differently this time ‘round, so we’ll be back with Community Update #31 to take you through what’s being tested and how you can take part!
Don’t wait up pookie, we’ll chat with you soon.
Best Community Support Nomination At The Game Awards 2024
We are deeply honoured by all of the awards that Baldur’s Gate 3 has been nominated for, and it goes without saying that our latest nomination for Best Community Support once again at The Game Awards 2024 has our hearts squeezing.
You’ve fuelled us with your questionably horny fanart, delusional tyrant fanfiction, and delightful array of mods, and we can’t wait to see how you bring this passion to our future games.
If you would like to support us at this year’s The Game Awards, you can vote for Baldur’s Gate 3 as Best Community Support before December 11th by clicking here. Watch the awards ceremony live on December 12 at 7:30pm EST on The Game Awards YouTube and Twitch channels.
A Very Larian Christmas
With December on our doorstep, we’re once again bringing back a little advent surprise, featuring a series of little treats for both the naughty and nice.
Keep an eye out later in December, for puzzles to earn rewards you'll cherish and remember!
Hotfix #29 Now Live! (Console Only)
Hey everyone,
There’s a small console-only hotfix going live today that resolves some stability and performance issues when using mods on console.
Console Platform File Limits
Unlike PC, consoles can only juggle so many files at once. The more mods you have installed, the quicker this file limit is reached. While we recommend only installing the mods you know you’ll definitely continue playing with, to maximise stability, we’re introducing a 100-mod limit for console platforms.
What Does This Mean For Cross-Saves?
Console players won’t be able to load saves that already have 100 mods enabled. If you play on both PC and console using cross-saves and have more than 100 mods enabled on a save, you may be able to disable the number of active mods from your PC, so that you can continue accessing your cross-save on console.
We’ll be shipping another fix soon that will aim to give console players the means to access console saves that are disabled after today’s update. However, it is important to note that mods can cause general instability, particularly on console, and depending on the mods you’ve had enabled on a save, you may run into issues when disabling them from your PC.
If you’ve got more than 100 mods installed on console, they will be automatically uninstalled on your console, and you’ll need to redownload any mods you downloaded, begin a new save, or load an earlier save with fewer than 100 mods to continue playing on console.
While we are working on bringing cross-play to Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll also need to keep this limit in mind when playing with console players! But more on that later.
To read the full console hotfix notes, please click here.
More Mods Being Tested For Console
Our Senior Communications Developer, Aoife, is back with another video that details how mods make their way to consoles! Learn more about the technical limitations and guidelines in place, as well as the processes behind console mod curation, including the importance of testing mods.
The team is working hard to test the latest versions of some mods currently available on console so they may be updated, and will continue to approve new mods that meet our guidelines and have successfully passed testing!
Another small hotfix for all platforms is coming your way today! Hotfix #28 addresses a few crashes and blockers, integrates a handful of gameplay bug fixes, and resolves some issues with the Mod Manager.
This hotfix also fixes an issue with multiplayer, where some players were getting caught in an enable–disable loop in the Mod Verification Window when trying to disable a mod that the host doesn't have.
MODDING
On PS5, the 'Continue' button will now work the same as the 'Load Game' screen in that it won't allow you to start a game if there are any mod issues.
On console, when loading a savegame that has unresolved mod issues, the Mod Verification Window will no longer keep asking you to re-download or uninstall mods when the action has already been taken.
Resolved an issue with mod dependencies not being loaded in the correct order after enabling/disabling some mods.
Mod Manager
Fixed the animated downloading bar not appearing in the Mod Verification Window after you click 'Download'.
Fixed the horizontal scrollbar on the Mod Details page not being vertically centred between the arrows that flank it.
Fixed a bug preventing you from opening the Mod Manager on PC when using a controller.
Fixed the button prompts in the Mod Details page not updating correctly when using a controller.
Fixed the filter tags in the Mod Manager not appearing in localised languages and made sure that the English string is shown as a backup in case there's an issue with fetching the translation.
The mod browser scrollbar now resets to the top when you navigate to a previous or next page.
On PS5, the Mod Manager now correctly reports the amount of remaining memory after uninstalling a mod.
Fixed a crash that could occur when changing pages in the Mod Manager.
Fixed clients on a multiplayer game getting caught in an enable–disable loop in the Mod Verification Window when trying to disable a mod that the host doesn't have.
Updated the 'Explicit Content' filter's name to 'Mature Content'.
Updated the name of the Mod Issues window to 'Mod Verification Window' to more accurately reflect what the window is for, and updated its description.
GAME
Gameplay
Improved loading times for players with many mods installed.
You can no longer add items to your wares even if they cannot become wares (e.g. pact weapons) by selecting them along with another item that can become a ware. This prevents a trade exploit where you could sell your wares and the bound items would not leave your inventory. Any more of these up your sleeves?
Fixed Honour Mode features, like Legendary Actions, carrying over to non-Honour-Mode games if you'd previously loaded an Honour Mode save.
On PS5, fixed the DualSense lightbar updating colours every single frame of the game when a new user logs in with a new controller.
Resolved an issue with Wyll opting for negative greeting nodes even when he does like you.
Fixed the character models becoming offset in the Trade UI when switching between trade and barter when using a controller.
Crashes and Blockers
Fixed a crash when trying to load into a playthrough rather than a particular savegame within that playthrough.
Fixed a crash that could occur when loading a savegame.
On PS5, fixed a potential crash when going full disco on the DualSense lightbar.
