Closed Beta Delay & Patch 7 Highlights

Greetings everyone,

We had planned to launch the Closed Beta for Patch 7 today, but as we were finalizing the build, we encountered a familiar game development challenge: the elusive bug-fix game. Fix one issue and another one may spring up unexpectedly.

One particular fix in Patch 7 has inadvertently caused passive rolls to malfunction. We’re delving into the root of this problem, meaning the Beta will be postponed until later this week.

On the bright side, if you haven’t signed up yet for a chance to participate in the beta, there’s still time! Simply visit the Baldur’s Gate 3 store page on Steam to register for a random selection.

Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peek at some highlights from the Patch 7 notes, featuring over 1,000 fixes and enhancements!

In addition to the new Evil Ending cinematics, split-screen improvements, and the Modding Toolkit, we have several amusing and practical fixes: clearer instructions on soap usage (to avoid those suspicious teeth marks), ensuring Gale’s Necrotic Aura dissipates correctly (avoiding bad vibes), and making sure Jaheira resumes following the party after Long Rest (sometimes, she just needed a longer nap).

By popular request, you can now activate Honour Mode mechanics during Custom Mode playthroughs! Choose the option in the Ruleset dropdown for new, thrilling battle mechanics without the pressure of full Honour Mode.

For more details and some visuals, visit our latest Community Update!

Please note that Patch 7 will initially be available exclusively in the PC Closed Beta on Steam. It won’t be accessible on consoles, Mac, or GOG. We anticipate releasing it to all players in September.

Heads-up: Some entries might reveal spoilers, so read with caution!

• Introducing ‘Evil Endings’: Brand new cinematic finales for those choosing darker paths.
• Added a Mod Manager, enabling the browsing, installation, and use of community-created mods.
• Enhanced split screen gameplay: the two halves of the screen will dynamically merge when characters are close and split apart when they move away. This update also includes numerous other improvements to enhance the split screen experience.

• When Dror Ragzlin falls into the spider pit, he’ll attempt to ally with the resident spiders using a new spell called Arachnid Compulsion to combat the true foe – you.
• The Bulette now features a condition called Diamond Scales and a new Legendary Action called Shredding Scales.
• Malus Thorm has gained a new Legendary Action named Grasping Appendage.
• Spectators have a new aura and spell: Panicked Sentinel and Ocular Nightmare.
• Ch’r’ai Tska’an, leader of the githyanki ambush in Act II, now possesses a Legendary Action called Soul Sacrifice.
• Ch’r’ai Har’rak, githyanki leader at the Knights of the Shield Hideout, boasts a new Legendary Action named Tu’narath’s Embrace.
• Ptaris introduces a new Legendary Action called Ptarian Dogma.

• The in-game video options have been streamlined and reorganized for better clarity and functionality. This includes an Upscaling Type drop-down, an Upscaling Mode drop-down, and an Upscaling Sharpness slider, followed by related options.
• The Reactions UI now allows you to toggle desired Reactions and confirm them, reducing the need to repeatedly select ‘Do not react’.
• A new Equipment Options menu is now available on the Character Sheet for controller users.
• The ‘Donate’ panel for giving magic items to Gale now includes items in your Traveller’s Chest and indicates currently equipped items.
• To address mischievous soap consumption, the action for using soap and sponges is now labeled ‘Use’ instead of ‘Consume’.
• Corrected an issue where the player character’s name reverted to ‘Custom’ during Character Creation if edited after creating the Dream Guardian.
• Fixed an incorrect spell Ability appearing during Feat selection in Level Up.

• Added a new loading screen in Act III, depicting the bustling streets of Baldur’s Gate.
• Corrected the missing skirt part of the Adamantine Splint Armour for female dwarves.
• Addressed clipping issues with the Adamantine Scale Mail on larger male characters.

• You can now initiate Custom Mode games using Honour Mode mechanics via the ‘Ruleset’ dropdown.
• The kuo-toa that pledged to build you an army will now support you in the final battle, provided they survived Act I.
• The Gondians’ promised support for the final battle will now manifest as a friendly Steel Watcher, courtesy of Zanner Toobin.
• Hair color options in Character Creation will still be accessible after choosing the bald hairstyle, allowing for eyebrow customization.
• Overhead dialogues supporting multiple player characters can now involve characters assigned to different players, enhancing multiplayer banter.
• Group Hide no longer affects summons not linked to the group in the Party Line.
• Improved selection behavior for camp supplies during a Long Rest by only taking needed items from a stack.
• Prevented cheating the Leap of Faith trial at the Gauntlet of Shar by simply clicking the final platform.
• Fixed an issue where resurrecting Lae’zel on the beach in Act I caused her to appear in the Party Line but not in the world, blocking progression.
• Addressed savegame issues where Gale retained his Necrotic Aura incorrectly upon load.
• Fixed Minthara’s body occasionally turning invisible on the Level Up screen.

• Astarion now has new idle animations at camp beyond just reading a book.
• Added a new idle animation for Minsc at camp, possibly inspired by Boo.
• Karlach will no longer brush the shaved side of her head.
• Enhanced neck kiss animations in romantic scenes with Shadowheart for characters with larger body types and dragonborn characters.

• Added more dialogue options and voiced lines to enhance overall reactivity, particularly for edge-case scenarios.
• Increased Dark Urge reactivity with additional dialogue options and Narrator lines.
• Resolved an issue preventing some romance party banters during adventuring.
• Avatar Lae’zel can make decisions at the game’s end even if she wasn’t the choice-making avatar in the main dialogue.
• Added a dialogue option for asking for a kiss in more paths of Wyll’s epilogue dialogues.
• Wyll won’t assume he’s talking to Lae’zel if you’re in holographic form in the epilogue.
• Wyll has a new greeting for romance partners in Act III and characters with low approval.
• Companions will be more sympathetic to Astarion fleeing sunlight.
• Added dialogue for Karlach reacting to Dammon’s death if he promised to help her.
• Minthara will now react if knocked out in Act I.

• Fixed issues related to resurrecting characters via Withers, party restructuring at night, and automatic camp scenes trapping you in an eternal slumber, unable to end a Long Rest.
• Corrected Shadowheart repeating a line after being resurrected by Withers from the Shadowfell.
• Addressed a small issue preventing comments on Gale’s last name.
• Fixed occurrences of Wyll having an exclamation mark above his head despite having no new dialogue.
• Minthara will no longer act as if you accepted Bhaal’s influence when it’s been stripped.
• Fixed a broken kissing scene with Shadowheart after giving her the Idol of Shar.
• Addressed an issue where Jaheira stopped following the party after a night outside the group.
• Ensured the rune tablets on the nautiloid trigger the Narrator’s lines.
• Clerics of Lathander will now recognize his symbol on a Lathanderian amulet.
• Prioritized the avatar as the main speaker in dialogues related to the hag’s Act I surrender.
• Minthara will now comment on Orin’s death after you kill her.
• Made the Act III romance scene with Wyll unskippable to preserve the arc’s conclusion.
• Wyll will acknowledge Karlach appropriately if paired with her and sent to Hells.
• Fixed a bug preventing Karlach’s Avernus scene if Wyll accompanies her.
• Fixed Wyll’s dialogue with his father post-Ansurs’ defeat and after the Iron Throne scenario.
• Lae’zel will wait longer if told you’ll return to her recruitment site.
• Improved Lae’zel’s camp idle behaviors to better match other companions.
• Corrected the fade-to-black after Karlach’s Avernus scene at the game’s end, preventing a brief reveal of developer workspaces.
• Breaking up with Karlach through another companion won’t block her dialogue anymore.
• Restored Gale’s last line in his ceremorphosis explanation and added a reactive dialogue option.
• Gale will leave again if refused magic items from the Traveller’s Chest.
• Patched savegames preventing Gale’s endgame dialogue with Mystra from initiating.
• Fixed a bug allowing you to kiss disguised Gale and subsequently cutting off the dialogue prematurely.
• Reworked the script handling character availability for dialogue, preventing issues like Minthara’s dialogue not initiating post-rescue at Moonrise Towers.

• Made ongoing optimizations for performance and stability throughout the game, including many code fixes.
• Performance improvements will be particularly noticeable in densely populated areas like the Lower City and in scenarios involving significant loot management.

• Reworked and enhanced the cutscene triggered by interacting with Ansur’s bones in the Wyrmway.
• Polished companion facial expressions and emotions during dialogues, especially during kiss scenes with the Vampire Lord Astarion.

Note: These are merely highlights from Patch 7. The comprehensive patch notes will be shared once Patch 7 is live for everyone.

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