Community Update #20: A Dragonborn, a Half-Orc & a Monk Walk Into a Tavern
Where to begin.
This week has seen you take to the streets of the Lower City as amateur sleuths in Blood in Baldur’s Gate, a community murder mystery to uncover the hidden darkness that lurks just beneath the city's surface. Where will the investigation lead? Keep digging, detectives, you’re leading us all to the Panel From Hell, where untold surprises await you: July 7th.
In the meantime, it’s time to talk about Baldur’s Gate 3. But not as you know it. We’re going to go in depth about some of our most-anticipated details: races & classes (we see you Ctrl+F Dragonborn), new Origins and Companion characters, the official level cap, new Difficulty Settings, and much, much more.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has been a game nearly 6 years in development. When Divinity: Original Sin 2 launched, we were 120 people, across a 3 year development. Now we’re 400. Since releasing in Early Access, we’ve been joined by nearly 2 million of you. Together, with your invaluable support, we’ve created a game that eclipses the depth & breadth of our previous RPGs.
We’ve over doubled DOS2’s five races, bringing 11 to life in BG3 with 31 subraces.
DOS2’s 10 ‘schools of spells’ is eclipsed by the 12 classes & 46 subclasses in BG3.
You caused chaos with the 225 player spells & actions in DOS2, so just imagine the havoc you’re about to unleash upon Faerûn with the over 600 spells & actions, excluding upcasts, in BG3.
Characters in DOS2 enjoyed 45 talents, against BG3’s 308 passive features, which are comparable to talents.
There’s a lot more where that came from, but this is already going to be a long one. We’ve been busy. We’ve grown, and so too has Baldur’s Gate 3. Let’s get into a little detail about what you can expect to see in the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, just in time for the release of the game on August 3rd for PC, and September 6th for PS5.
YOU READ THAT RIGHT
We will be releasing the game in order of platform readiness. Baldur’s Gate 3 will first come to PC on August 3rd, before launching on PlayStation 5 a few weeks later on September 6th.
This means the PC version of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be released at a time where you’ll have more time to play it.
The PlayStation 5 version will be released roughly a week later than its originally scheduled date of August 31st. Baldur’s Gate 3 is targeting 60 frames-per-second and we’re close to achieving that on the platform but need a bit more extra time. We don’t want to compromise on quality, and feel it would be a shame to downscale to 30fps or make other compromises to hit an arbitrary date.
We understand that folks may be disappointed with this but we're close enough to reaching new heights for RPGs on the system that the benefits of a short delay outweigh the downsides of rushing the PS5 release and having to downscale. The full Mac version will also be released at a later date, and we’ll update you as soon as we have a target.
More on those new heights: Baldur’s Gate 3 has more cinematic dialogue than three times all three Lord of the Rings novels combined. It has 174 hours of cinematics, making it more than twice the length of every season of Game of Thrones combined.
All that content serves to give you a tremendous amount of choice and consequence, ensuring everyone’s adventure will be unique. And what’s more, you’ll be able to enjoy that content not only in single player, but also in online multiplayer or local co-op with split screen. At the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase, you’ll really get a first glimpse of how it all comes together.
We’ve said before that our goal is to bring our games to as many platforms as possible. We’re optimistic about Baldur’s Gate 3 on the Xbox Series X, but in order to announce and release the game on Xbox, we need to ensure that the game is performing without compromise across the entire Xbox X|S ecosystem, in multiplayer and with split-screen. We already put a lot of effort into making it work and will continue to do so. Like with the PS5 version, we’ll release it when it’s ready. We’ll update you as soon as we can.
Now for something completely different
So what can you expect from Baldur’s Gate 3 when we launch this Summer? Well, this’ll be a long one.
New Level Cap: Unleash Your Full Potential At Level 12
While we originally planned for Level 10 to be the highest character level in the game, too many rad high-level spells would have been left just out of reach had we done so. Instead, Baldur's Gate 3 players will be able to reach Level 12, unlocking Planar Allies, Otto’s Irresistible Dance, and Chain Lightning.
Races
Play as a human if you want, but by no means do you have to! Baldur’s Gate 3 features 11 races, with 31 subraces.
And we can now reveal Dragonborn and Half-Orcs will round out our list of races that will be playable at launch.
Hailing from Toril’s distant sister-world of Abeir, Dragonborn are rare in the realms. And they’re hard to miss. Hulking in size next to any other humanoid creatures, they bear the unmistakable mark of their draconic heritage - with chromatic and metallic scales reminiscent of the majestic dragons from which they trace their lineage.
A Dragonborn's subrace determines their damage and resistance. For Silver Dragonborn that's cold damage; for Red Dragonborn it's fire. In Baldur's Gate 3, there are 10 subraces to choose from: Black, Blue, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, Green, Red, Silver and White, more subraces than any other race in the game.
Your draconic ancestry also determines your breath weapon: a gift from ancestral Dragonborn, giving you the power to unleash an unholy burp of destructive energy from your very maw - Thanks grandpa!
Tune into the Panel From Hell: Reveal Showcase on July 7th to see Dragonborn in action.
With a fierce physique and an underbite that would make a dentist cry, Half-Orcs are an intimidating addition. Generally more inclined to act before they think, these are creatures of intense emotion who are propelled by that inner fire. Sometimes it surfaces through acts of protection, loyalty, and selflessness. But often it appears in a rage that compels them into battle. Harnessing Savage Attacks, Half-Orcs do some of the highest weapon damage in the game - dealing extra damage crits using triple the dice.
Half-Orcs are also one of the most resilient races in the game. To quote from the prose of Chumbawumba: They get knocked down, but then get up again. Thanks to their key ability, Relentless Endurance, Half-Orcs are able to beat death once per long rest. This means instead of outright dying when your health is drained, you'll drop to 1 HP.
A smaller addition to our lineup, but no less significant: Duergar are coming to Baldur’s Gate 3. The third Dwarf subrace will be playable at launch, adding a stoic and subterranean cousin to the dwarven family tree. We’ve also added a ton of reactivity around these characters, with over 200 new dialogue responses tailored to Duergar-kind.
New Classes and Subclasses
For every class we introduced in Early Access, we'll be launching with at least one new subclass. That's a total of 46 subclasses, nearly half of them new, across all 12 classes - including the new Monk class.
Zen And The Art of Punching: Monk Class Revealed
Monks are masters of manipulating the field of combat - pushing, pulling, and stunning enemies across the battleground using forceful Ki-powered punches. Their combat style is a balance between Fighter and Rogue, allowing them to traverse the map effortlessly - with Step of the Wind - and then strike out with powerful melee blows.
Beginning the game with Unarmoured Defense, Monks receive an AC of 10 + their Dexterity and Wisdom modifiers at Level 1. Monk weapons are neither heavy nor two-handed, with this class opting instead for lighter fare like clubs and quarterstaves - or forgoing weapons altogether in favour of a classic knuckle sandwich, punches that scale up in damage as they level. In combat, they combine light, quick unarmed attacks with weapon attacks - producing beautifully distinctive and stylised combat animations.
And we've got to say, the animation, VFX and SFX for this class are on a whole other level. We've pulled inspiration from the rulebook to create a stunning audio visual experience which lives up to Kung-Fu cinema classics.
We also did a lot of work house-ruling this class, re-balancing Monks and giving them more Ki to ensure they feel powerful next to our other classes. So we're introducing brand new actions to play with.
Baldur’s Gate 3 features a trio of Monastic traditions to choose as your subclass. Monks of the Open Hand excel at close combat, using special unarmed techniques to manipulate the enemies at hand. At mid levels, this subclass can charge their attacks with Psychic, Necrotic or Radiant damage (representing mind, body and soul). At higher levels, we give them Ki Resonating Blast, which infuses punched targets with Ki and can create a chain reaction of explosions across all in-range targets who have also been touched by Ki.
Shadow monks are stealth ninjas who teleport to and from the shadows, a skill that allows them to stealthily strike enemies then return to the safety of darkness. And finally, Monks from the Four Elements subclass are casters who unleash Monk variants of spells followed up with a rapid bonus action punch.
Through Martial Arts, a Monk's attack damage using Monk Weapons and unarmed attacks will scale with their level. This also gives the Monk a bonus unarmed attack after they attack by punch or weapon. And if their Dexterity is higher than their Strength, their Dexterity will be used to determine their Monk Weapon attack rolls and damage.
Should your Monk become the target of ranged attack, Deflect Missiles will allow them to deflect a range weapon or thrown item back at their attacker using the new Interrupt system added in Patch 9. You'll also soon find new magic items throughout the world designed to further support the Monk's playstyle.
Meet Your Companions For The Journey Ahead
Whether exploring the streets of Baldur’s Gate from the perspective of a vampire spawn or investigating the driving force behind Gale’s strange gastrointestinal urges, each Origin character brings their distinct personality, background, and story to the game.
With the addition of Karlach, our number of Origin characters now rises to six. She will join Astarion, Gale, Shadowheart, Lae’zel, and Wyll like a well-meaning, devil-fighting bat out of hell, rounding out the moral spectrum of playable characters from good to bad, and the shades of grey between. But she won't be our final Origin - you'll have to tune in to next week’s Panel From Hell: Release Showcase for that.
Along with your Origins, you can also expect to find four Companion characters who can join you on your journey: Halsin, Jaheira, Minsc, and Minthara. While we initially planned to lock players in with a core crew of companions past Act I, we nixed that plan in favour of a buffet-approach to team selection. You’ll be able to mix and match any of these characters into your group throughout. And, yes, you’ll be able to romance almost all of them (ask us sometime about that Halsin scene).
From the Fires of Avernus: Karlach Joins The Party As A New Playable Character
After brawling her way out of the scorched battlefields of the Blood War, Karlach now joins your party. Long-time players will recognise this battle-worn Tiefling Barbarian from Early Access, but come launch you’ll finally get to unlock her full story as a playable Origin story.
Karlach's battle history is written across her body in scars, burns, and tattoos, the indelible marks of a legendary warrior with unyielding resilience. After finally escaping from this endless war between devils and demons, she is determined to live life to the fullest. Or at least as much as she can given the unholy machine pumping hellish fire through her veins. This little present from the archdevil she served makes her a beast in battle, but if she gets too worked up, she'll destroy anything she touches - including you.
In the words of writer Sarah Baylus: “In a 2023 setting, [Karlach would] roll in on a Harley with shades and a cigar between her teeth, blaring Sabbath - a diesel-soaked dynamo with a heart of gold. She seeks justice for the oppressed, camaraderie, and revenge on the bastard who sold her to Hell.”
Finding Your Feat
Every so often as you level, you'll have the chance to improve your ability score with a new Feat: an upgrade that gives unique advantages to your character. At launch, you'll have a total of 37 possible feats to choose from - and most of those will be completely new to the game at launch.
NEW
Actor
Alert
Charger
Crossbow Expert
Dungeon Delver
Durable
Elemental Adept
Heavy Armour Master
Lucky
Mage Slayer
Medium Armour Master
Observant
Performer
Polearm Master
Resilient
Ritual Caster
Savage Attacker
Sentinel
Sharpshooter
Spell Sniper
Tavern Brawler
War Caster
New Spells Coming in 1.0
Baldur's Gate 3 will have over 600 player spells and sub-spells at launch, and that doesn't even include upcasting.
New spells coming at launch include:
Difficulty Levels & Rules
In D&D, picking the right DM is key to defining the journey you want to embark on. In Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve created three modes of play that essentially act as different types of DM: the forgiving, narrative driven DM, or the DM that isn’t afraid to let you die if your glass-cannon wizard decides to tickle an owlbear.
At launch, in addition to ‘Normal mode’ (which can be considered our default), players may avail of the following:
In Story mode, combat has been made more forgiving so players can fully immerse themselves in the narrative layer of this adventure. In this mode, friendly NPCs are harder to kill, trader prices are at a 20 percent discount, and you'll begin the game with a +2 starting proficiency bonus.
Hardcore mode, then, is where to test your mettle. In this mode, enemy lethality is cranked up to Brutal, ensuring that enemy AI are stronger, will prioritise squishier targets with low AC, and will seize opportunities to go in for the kill. Additionally, many adjustments have been made to the fights themselves specifically for Hardcore mode, with certain enemies receiving additional support through reinforcements, spells, or consumable items.
A Truly Global Release
With a script roughly 2,000,000 words in length, translating Baldur's Gate 3 was no easy task. But thanks to an incredible team of over 200 strong, we’re proud to reveal Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC will be available in 13 subtitled languages: English, French, German, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Spanish (Latin America), Turkish, Portuguese-Brazil, Italian, and Ukrainian.
The Collector’s Edition
With the release of the game brought forward on PC and delayed by a week on PlayStation 5, those of you who pre-ordered our gargantuan Collector’s Edition probably have questions. We have answers!
The Collector’s Edition should make it to you around the 31st of August, the original release date. For those who ordered on PC, your Steam code will be emailed to you earlier so you can start playing sooner. (Quick note: save games will not transfer from your Early Access build to release, but within the 72-hour period prior to launch, they will).
On PlayStation 5, to ensure you’re ready for your Digital Deluxe Edition 72-hour Early Access period, your code will be sent to you via email before the 72-hour period starts, so you can jump in right on time to claim your rewards. Phew!
You can still buy the Collector’s Edition over on the official website, ce.baldursgate3.game. It’s ma-hoosive. We’ll show you at the Panel From Hell: Release Showcase.
35 DAYS TO LAUNCH
We’re eternally grateful for your patience as we reach the final milestones of development. There’s still some work to be done, but we know you’ve waited a very long time for confirmations on many of the topics discussed in the community update today.
We didn’t want to spoil anything, though. We’ll reveal more content - and more numbers - on July 7, as we explore the breadth and depth of Baldur’s Gate 3, at the final Panel From Hell: Release Showcase. It’s been real.
Blood In Baldur's Gate
15 years before the events of Baldur's Gate 3, the streets of the city ran red with blood.
Tavs, we need your help. Will your sharp analytical minds unravel these heinous killings before the murderer strikes again?
Our goggles are on, our posture is aerodynamic; like a gnome hurled through the air by a barbarian with a mean overhead throw, Baldur’s Gate 3 is rapidly hurtling toward launch.
This weekend, we unveiled the city of Baldur's Gate for the very first time, with a glimpse behind its walls and around its familiar labyrinthine streets. It's been about 20 years since we last had a pint in the Elfsong Tavern or crawled through the sewers beneath the city streets and, as you might have spotted during the PC Gaming Show, many of these locations are back, and many news ones are waiting to be discovered for the first time - giving you a chance to explore the menacing roads of the Outer City, the opulent estates of the Upper City, and the dark alleys and pubs of the Lower City.
But the Baldur's Gate that we've built is a lot more than faithful geography. As a modern adaptation of an iconic fantasy setting, this city couldn’t be a mere backdrop. It needed to feel more like a complex organism: alive, changeable, and interconnected. Your journey, and your story, has been heading in this direction since the start of the game. You’ve finally arrived.
Welcome To Baldur's Gate
Though your journey hasn’t been easy, you arrive at a city preparing for war. As the Steel Watch patrols Baldur’s Gate’s labyrinthian streets, the printing press prepares the daily news cycle. There are factions within the city vying for control, all disagreeing on what to make of outside threats, and new faces within the city walls. Opportunity in times of struggle is rife. What you make of it, and what it makes of you, will be determined by your choices up to the city walls, and beyond their shadow.
We’ve built a truly next-gen fantasy city, and upped the stakes. Our latest trailer gives you a sense of that scale, showing rolling vistas of grand buildings that recede into the horizon, boisterous docks with harbours thick with ships, and lively town centres populated with over a thousand individual characters. You can explore all of it.
On cobbled streets, bustling crowds go about their day, each one with a story to unravel, a secret to uncover, or a personal reaction to be stirred. Peer further down those steep hills and you might spot a distant bell tower that you can climb for a panoramic view of the city. Make a wrong turn to the visiting circus and explore your deep-seated clown phobia. Or you could case the local inn, where sinister rumours lurk in secret back rooms. In short, Baldur's Gate is your oyster. It is its own vast, complex organism inside of a game already filled with opportunities for exploration. What your role is within it is entirely up to you.
Our scope for the city is big. But it's also grown substantially over the past year.
From the very beginning, we envisioned a Baldur’s Gate that players could navigate however they chose - whether that’s flying to the hidden rooftop nest of Gale's pet tressym, burrowing into a locked prison cell as a giant badger, or slipping into the Counting House in the form of a little cloud (not technically considered breaking and entering as per Faerûnian property law). But in our original prototype, the city was actually much more compartmentalised - a series of small, contained regions connected by teleporters. And so it remained until midway into developing the city, when we decided to make some major changes.
"[Swen] said, like, can't we just connect everything?" reminisces World Building Director Farhang Namdar. "And that was an interesting day."
What's come out of that decision is something we’re very proud of. The districts of Baldur's Gate are now three seamless open worlds. No matter whether you’re investigating underground crypts, climbing the stairs of a towering citadel, or descending into hidden cellars, open-ended exploration reigns supreme. No longer are they broken up into much smaller chunks. This - though ambitious - means that we were finally able to achieve that grand sense of hustle and bustle, where all the stories within the city were truly interconnected. There’s plenty to discover, and to be distracted by, and nothing is off-limits. We wanted every house to have real characters who had stories, and who could offer quests with secrets to uncover.
Hello to Jason Isaacs
Like the city itself, the political landscape of Baldur's Gate is something that must be deftly navigated. While the streets may appear orderly, maintained in check by a security force of hulking automatons, beneath the surface lies an undeniable undercurrent of turmoil. Duke Ravengard has disappeared, and in his wake a power vacuum has emerged, leaving an opportunity for ambitious factions and individuals to seize control and shape the fate of the city.
Enter Lord Enver Gortash, commander of a clockwork army of Steel Watchers. Raised by a devil, a leader among loners, Enver Gortash freed himself of his bonds to envision wonders and become a master of both men and mechanisms.
Jason had this to say about the nefarious politician: "It was a thrill to join the Baldur’s Gate universe but I fear that the magnificent Lord Enver Gortash is being mischaracterized as a villain. In a brutal world of betrayals and butchery, he’s learned to lie better and backstab first. The joy in voicing him - apart from the obvious pleasure in getting to look so glorious - was that the creative team and I got to play loose enough to find ways that he could enjoy the ride and make the players hate him more!"
First revealed during last week's Summer Game Fest, Larian Studios is thrilled to announce that acclaimed actor and all-round great bad-guy Jason Isaacs is taking on the role of this dark and charismatic sovereign. Best known for playing classic antagonists such as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series, Captain Hook in 2003’s Peter Pan, and Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, Isaacs adds a layer of depth to the characters you’ll meet here, bringing with him decades of experience in acting the villain to the recording booth and even modifying lines of dialogue between takes.
Through Gortash, players will help define the future of the legendary city, deciding who to align with in the struggle for the soul of Baldur's Gate.
We know, you want to know if you can romance Lord Enver Gortash… We get it.
The Road Ahead
In this year’s PCGaming Show, to celebrate the beginning of the end, we worked with Mashed to create this fun little animated short written by our very own Emily Gera, starring the original voice cast for Baldur’s Gate 3! Frooooooog. We hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did. Players of Act 1 will find a few easter eggs designed just for you. Awwww!
Baldur’s Gate 3 is much, much bigger than we had envisioned when we started this journey roughly 5 years ago. Looking at what’s in Act 1 Early Access right now, it’s fair to say that you’ve really only seen a glimmer of the full experience to come. In July, you’ll begin to get a more complete look not just at how far Baldur’s Gate 3 has come, but where it’s been heading all these years in development. We know you’re really eager to hear about all the playable races & classes in the game. It’s coming.
Spoilers! We also understand that many of you are cautious about spoilers and we don’t intend to spoil anything between now and launch as we release some new exciting video assets and information into the wild. We’ll try and give you a heads up about the nature of something before you see it, so you can make an informed decision as to whether it’s something you’d like to learn about, or wait to experience yourself at launch.
With regards to any other platforms Baldur’s 3 will release on, our plan is to release the game in order of platform readiness. Once we’re sure about dates, we’ll let you know. You can rest assured we’ll try to make BG3 run on every platform we can, but it’s a gigantic, truly next-generation RPG with split screen, multiplayer and incredible breadth & density and we don’t want to compromise.
With that said - ONWARD, to Baldur’s Gate! We’ll see you in another community update in the not too distant future.
We’re nearly there.
Community Update #18: Baldur's Date
Hello and howdy, dear readers! What’s it called when the long-awaited third installment in a beloved RPG series finally gets a proper release day announcement? That’s Baldur’s Date. 😌
Baldur’s Gate 3 releases on August 31, 2023 for PC, Mac, and PS5.
Earlier today we unveiled a brand new gameplay and story trailer during Sony’s State of Play livestream. Fret not, our PC-focused friends, as you will still want to see this trailer:
Meet General Ketheric Thorm, a seemingly invincible necromancer leading an army of the dead towards the city of Baldur’s Gate. Ketheric isn’t the antagonist, but one of three main antagonists that your party will need to contend with if you ever want to get those tadpoles out of your head (maybe even if you decide you don’t 😏).
Ketheric’s plans for the people of Faerûn are as complex as his motivations, and so we knew his role would benefit from the kind of depth and gravitas that renowned character actor J.K. Simmons could provide. One take at the recording booth and we knew we’d made the right call. Take a look behind the scenes:
We’ll introduce you to two more antagonists over the coming months, so keep an eye out (but close them if someone approaches with anything… wiggly).
Those of you who prefer to navigate the world using analogue sticks and buttons may have caught a glimpse at what full controller support for Baldur’s Gate 3 will look like for launch. With split-screen co-op, too, you’ll be able to experience the entirety of your adventures in Faerûn with another player on the same device!
Baldur’s Gate 3 will also support cross-save progression between PC, Mac and PS5, allowing you to transfer your saves between platforms and continue your adventure wherever you purchase the game. Personally, we’ll be taking our experience on the road with the Steam Deck, and then venturing home to enjoy the cinematic experience of interrupting an ogre’s horizontal tango from the comfort of our sofa. Don’t forget the popcorn!
There’s more: Baldur’s Gate 3 is getting a Digital Deluxe Edition on launch. Here’s what you can expect to find within:
Divinity Bard Song Pack - Astound audiences by performing this special set of new songs from the Divinity series
Paintings from Rivellon - Discover a new collection of paintings across the Forgotten Realms
Adventurer's Pouch - Receive a collection of camp supplies and potions to help get your journey started
Digital OST - Enjoy the music of Baldur's Gate 3 from composer Borislav Slavov
Digital Artbook - Explore the art and design of Baldur's Gate 3 in this digital artbook, written by Larian
Digital Character Sheets - Peruse a set of four-page D&D character sheets for each Baldur's Gate 3 origin character
Bring a little bit of Rivellon to the Forgotten Realms with these Divinity-inspired artefacts:
Mask of the Shapeshifter: Allows you to change race and appearance on the fly, inspired by Fane
Cape of the Red Prince: Cloak inspired by the Red Prince
Lute of the Merryweather Bard: Playable instrument inspired by Lohse
Needle of the Outlaw Rogue: Dagger inspired by Sebille
Bicorne of the Sea Beast: Headgear inspired by Beast
We’ll have more to share later, but here’s a little peek at the Mask of the Shapeshifter in-game. No faces were ripped in the creation of this mask! (Technology really has come a long way since DOS2.)
Do you already own Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC? Are you planning to purchase it in Early Access before launch? You’re going to get a free upgrade to the Digital Deluxe edition on launch day! Same goes for owners of our Collector’s Edition (available to pre-order via our website for both PC & PS5 while stocks last!) – here’s a reminder of all that’s inside:
Filled with tangible treasures we’re sure you’re going to love, and now it comes with the Digital Deluxe Edition – so even more value in that rather large box. If you want the full run-down of what you’re going to get with each edition, check out this handy chart.
With today’s news, we’re just over 6 months away from Baldur’s Gate 3’s release day. It's been quite the journey so far, and we still have plenty of surprises to talk about before we get there. Including [Redacted], [Redacted] being able to [Redacted] into a [Redacted]. Wow, it feels good to say those ones out loud, they’ve really been eating away at us!
A note on Minimum System Requirements
One last thing: Baldur's Gate 3's graphical fidelity and complexity has improved quite a bit as it's grown throughout Early Access. We've been keeping an eye on its minimum system requirements, and as the game nears release we've raised the minimum system requirements listed on Steam to better reflect the realities of the launch version.
Baldur's Gate 3 may be playable on systems below these minimum suggested specifications, but we believe this may hinder the player experience. Check our store page for the latest specs.
That's all from us, until next time!
Now streaming on Geforce NOW
It’s time to take the party to the cloud. We’re excited to announce that Baldur’s Gate 3 is now available to stream via GeForce NOW! Experience Baldur’s Gate 3 on underpowered PCs and more with a GeForce NOW membership. Members will be able to adventure, loot, battle and romance as they journey through the Forgotten Realms, either alone or with companions.
Just a quick update today: we are happy to announce that Mac users can now download and play Patch 9!
If you need a recap of Patch 9’s contents, you can find our Community Update here, where we dive deep into some of the highlights, such as Paladin, Level 5, and the new Reactions system.
And you can also check out the full notes for Patch 9 over here.
Thank you for your patience as we worked on fixing some last issues on this build. Now go ahead and smite some evil!
Hotfix #32 Now Live!
Hello everyone,
Today we bring you a new hotfix, which addresses some common reasons for crashes and other gameplay issues.
This hotfix will also take care of the issue causing parties of 3-4 players to crash when a second player joins an already-started conversation. (Warning: We're pleased to assist in making your party chats run smoothly, but you're on your own when it comes to avoiding small talk.)
A big thank you to all who reported this issue and all the rest!
For our Mac players, we know you’re still waiting for Patch 9. We’re continuing to work on the stability of the build on Mac, but need some more time to address the issues.
CRASHES AND BLOCKERS
Fixed a crash caused by RAM corruption that would occur when loading into the tutorial.
Fixed a crash that would occur when booting the game using Vulkan.
Fixed an issue prompting the 'Mid-dialogue saves are currently disabled' error while not in dialogue, which was preventing you from saving.
Fixed a crash that would occur in 3- or 4-player sessions - if one player is in a dialogue and another listens in, the game no longer crashes for everyone else.
Fixed an issue in multiplayer causing the UI to disappear when switching from listening in on the host to listening in on the client.
GAMEPLAY
Fixed an issue causing your equipped weapon set to switch from melee to ranged or vice versa when loading a savegame.
Fixed an issue causing some of Shadowheart's spells to disappear from her prepared spell list after saving and then loading that savegame.
Fixed some visual issues with the Vision of the Absolute spear.
Fixed a certain non-interactable NPC appearing in the goblin camp.
Hotfix #31 Now Live!
Hello everyone,
We’re entering 2023 with a new hotfix for you, taking care of several crashes, bugs, and more!
We’ve heard of tough crowds, but we think our NPCs may have taken things a little too far. Previously, if you played an instrument badly in front of them you gained the permanent cold shoulder. While this might sound like a cool pauldron, it just means they would ignore you for the rest of the game. We’ve explained stage etiquette to everyone and they should be a little more forgiving of your instrumental ineptitude. Also, Shadowheart now remembers where her artefact is.
As ever, thank you to everyone who took the time to report these issues to us.
CRASHES AND BLOCKERS
Fixed a crash that would occur when carrying out an action immediately after having prepared another one.
Fixed a crash that would occur when loading a savegame made after killing Gekh Coal while controlling one of his zombies.
MULTIPLAYER
You no longer get stuck in a Long Rest if you agree to go to camp as you enter a dialogue.
You can no longer interact with nearby objects while listening in on another player's dialogue.
GAMEPLAY
Playing an instrument badly in front of NPCs no longer makes them refuse to speak to you ever again.
Fixed projectiles looking like they materialise out of thin air when you shoot them.
Fixed several issues with how Dror Ragzlin and his lackeys react to crimes and other questionable business.
Rebalanced the Spider Companion's Entomb action to be a little weaker.
CINEMATICS
Fixed Shadowheart walking in the wrong direction to get the artefact from her pod on the nautiloid.
Fixed the background and animations for the paladins when interacting with the hag's talking door.
UI
Fixed several characters' portraits - including Krolla's, which showed off her hip instead of her face.
Fixed the placeholder icon for the Poor Performance condition.
ENGINE
Fixed screenshot previews not uploading to Steam Cloud, which resulted in missing savegame images when syncing on a new PC.
Hotfix #30 Now Live!
A little surprise hotfix for you this holiday season, which will take care of a number of visual bugs, blockers, crashes, and more! From adding Pings to your minimap to fixing noiseless footsteps to removing those weird powers of telekinesis that we accidentally gave characters when they’re picking something up to throw.
Oh and no more pushing gaseous forms off of cliffs. We'll be praying to that big Paladin Santa in the sky that he spares you for attempting something so cruel during this, (gestures vaguely), the most wonderful time of the year.
A big thanks to all who reported these issues to us, and we’re looking forward to seeing you in the new year!
HIGHLIGHTS
Players can now use Ping on minimap
Fixed issue where player character receives damage when throwing weapon with Throw action
Multi-projectile spells like Magic Missile now use correct path and hit selected targets correctly
Fixed issue where attempting to throw far away items or characters will immediately snap the item into the character’s hand. So no more telekinetic barbarians
Characters in Gaseous Form can no longer be shoved off a cliff
Fixed issue causing zombies to die if the original zombie created with Animate Dead is killed
Fixed issue where Oathbreakers would side with Tieflings during the Attack on the Grove after selecting dialogue option to side with Minthara
Potential fix for an issue where the screen would become black for some players.
CRASHES AND BLOCKERS
Fixed crash when going back to Main Menu under certain conditions
Fixed random crash upon loading
Fixed issue in Multiplayer where the game would crash if the host disconnected while another player was in the Character Sheet screen.
PERFORMANCE ISSUES
Fixed the sharp drops in FPS when opening spellbook
Fixed performance issue when casting spells after loading the game for the first time
UI
Players can now use Ping on minimap
Fixed players being unable to obtain their Oathbreaker subclass if they save then load their game while in the Level Up UI
Updated tooltip for Divine Favour to show the correct duration of the status effect
Using [L] hotkey in Party View now opens Reactions menu
CINEMATICS
Fixed missing backgrounds in the Hag’s talking door cinematic
Fixed issue causing player to become stuck in cinematic after initiating dialog with Asharak or Guex when another party member is speaking to Wyll in The Hollow
Fixed issue where circle highlights appear in cinematics
Added new Gale VO in dialogue with Shadowheart
SPELLS AND ABILITIES
Fixed issue where player character receives damage when throwing weapon with Throw action
Multi-projectile spells like Magic Missile now use correct path and hit selected targets correctly
Characters in Gaseous Form will no longer be affected by surfaces
Characters in Gaseous Form can no longer be shoved off a cliff
Fixed issue causing zombies to die if the original zombie created with Animate Dead is killed
Fixed issue where shout spells fail to cast when vision is lost
Fixed missing Fly animations for Cats, Badgers and Deep Rothé
Fixed issue where Asmodeus Tieflings could cast Hellish Rebuke infinitely
Extra Rage charge was removed for Barbarian Wildheart at level 5
VISUALS AND SOUND
Potential fix for an issue where the screen would become black for some players.
Fixed issue that caused footsteps to produce no sound on most terrain. Now your Rogue has to be extra sneaky
Fixed lighting issues after loading a save made in Adamantine Forge
Fixed lighting issues in cinematics where the Oathbreaker appears to you
Added missing Prepare SFX for certain spells
Fixed issue with footprints appearing black after a character steps in water
BUGS
Fixed issue where attempting to throw far away items or characters will immediately snap the item into the character’s hand. So no more telekinetic barbarians
Fixed issue where Oathbreakers would side with Tieflings during the Attack on the Grove after selecting dialogue option to side with Minthara
Fixed issue with Ogres becoming stuck after receiving Frightened condition from a Wrathful Smite spell
Fixed issue requiring French localization players to change savegame name in order to manually save
Fixed problem with Controlled condition becoming broken after loading a save
Fixed issue where players remain stuck in Prone status after levelling up immediately upon reaching the Crash Site
Community Update #17: Holy Knight
‘Twas the night of the update, and the snow drifted freely As we printed out liability waivers ahead of killing Geoff Keighley Dunked a Druid in gravy, added flour to thicken Now we'll finally find out if roast Wildshapes taste like chicken
Yes, dear readers, that magical time of year is upon us once again. Chestnuts are roasting over open fires, hearts are brimming with good tidings, and Geoff Keighley is combusting on our set from the violent heat of a Level 5 Fireball spell. It can only mean one thing: it’s Patch Day!
Patch #9: Holy Knight is now live!
Patch #9 is our final major update before our August 2023 launch as we put the finishing touches on BG3. This community-inspired update is a direct response to your feedback, and brings some of your most requested features and changes to Baldur’s Gate 3. We’ve boosted the level cap, revamped our Reactions System, unlocked Flying and unveiled a long-awaited playable class: Paladins, along with many other new additions, tweaks and fixes. Streaming live from the jolliest place on Earth – Belgium – today’s Panel From Hell gives you a first look at all this new content in action.
Coming hot off the heels of our trailer reveal at last week’s TGAs, Larian’s Christmas From Hell revealed Matt Mercer as the voice of Minsc, peeled the wrapping off the new Baldur’s Gate 3 Collector’s Edition – available for pre-order now! – and saw the return of Geoff Keighley as host, followed by his death and swift resurrection; a Christmas miracle.
No Geoffs were harmed in the making of this PFH
Miss the livestream? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa, curl up in front of the warm irradiating glow of your computer monitor, and bask in the fires of righteousness that emanate from today’s patch highlights:
Critical Roleplay: Introducing Paladin
A hybrid between cleric and fighter, Paladins are marked by the ability to unleash formidable and devastating blows on enemies while providing support to their team in the form of actions like Lay on Hands, their classic Paladin heal. While they progress more slowly through their spell slots than other spellcasters, they also pack extra damage thanks to their specialised Paladin feature Divine Smite which imbues weapons with a holy radiance and does massive damage.
Building on the direction of this class in 5th Edition, Paladins in BG3 are distinct from our other divinely inspired classes. Their powers are channelled through the Oath to which they have sworn -- one that they choose at the start of character creation.
Patch comes with two Paladin subclasses. Take the Oath of the Ancients and fight on the side of light and the natural world. Like Arthurian Green Knights in plate armour, these Paladins vow to preserve the sanctity of life and the beauty of nature, using Healing Radiance to let nature heal all nearby allies.
Take the Oath of Devotion and uphold justice in the pursuit of the greater good. These are your classic Knights In Shining Armour, Paladins who follow a code of honour and virtue both in and out of battle – the kind of guys who’d probably do their taxes early just because it felt like the right thing to do. Their signature feature, Holy Rebuke, lets them call upon their Oath in combat to envelop an ally in an aura that deals 1d4 Radiant damage to anyone who hits them with a melee attack.
Paladins are very much a roleplaying class, and those who take this path will have the opportunity to explore their character’s moral code and, depending on the choices they make, discover what it means to be an Oathbreaker.
Oathbreaker is our third, hidden subclass that is triggered if a Paladin goes against their moral code. Once that Oath is broken, say by killing an innocent or selling out the Druids to the Absolute, you’ll lose your previous Oath-inspired actions. But in turn you will gain darker ones like Control Undead – a Level 3 spell that lets you enlist an undead creature to fight for you. This is a subclass for those eager to explore their character's motivations and beliefs in dialogue, who seek to define justice for themselves.
Powering up to Level 5
We’ve raised the level cap! D&D players will recognize Level 5 as a big power boost for many of the classes, and in Patch #9 you can now reach those same heights in Baldur’s Gate 3. To wet your appetite, here are a few examples: Spellcasters gain access to powerful 3rd-level spells like Fireball, Counterspell, and Animate Dead. Clerics receive Spirit Guardians, a spell that deals heavy radiant or necrotic damage to foes around them, while Sorcerers and Wizards get Haste, giving their character an additional action point, movement, and more AC. Fighters, Barbarians, Rangers, and Paladins also receive the extra feature at Level 5 allowing them to make a second weapon attack for free.
Level 5 also unlocks the Fly spell, which is ideal when positioning for a death-from-above ranged attack or just to escape the grasp of your pitiful gravity-bound enemies.
A Reactions System fueled by your choices
This update includes one of our most requested features: a revamped Reactions System. The Reactions System refers to the way that certain combat actions can be triggered by various combat circumstances. For example, if you have Counterspell prepared and an enemy casts a spell at you, the game can now pause and ask if you want to use your Counterspell to block the enemy’s spell.
And there’s more!
As always, these highlights represent only a fraction of what you can expect from today's update. For the complete list of new features and tweaks check out our patch notes below and marinate in the flavourful juices of such fixes as:
We’ve added the option to choose your character's identity and included non-binary support. In English, we now support they/them pronouns. Other languages will follow.
We extended the Combat Cameras so they can be triggered by player and enemy melee Critical Hits, summons, Wild Shapes, and several other spells and abilities. More drama!
You no longer need to kill your summons to dismiss them.
When rolling dice during dialogues, the reason why you are rolling is now prominently displayed.
You can no longer use the Bitter Divorce wand to resurrect party members without limits.
You can no longer use the Second Marriage wand more than once in and out of combat.
Fixed Halsin speaking through his eyelids while wildshaped
