Much like a wise mentor in a heartwarming 1980s film sequence, we brim with pride watching all the mods you’ve skillfully crafted and employed since we debuted our official mod tools in September. In under three months, you’ve impressively uploaded upwards of 3,000 mods, achieved over 70 million downloads, and concocted a spell to transform your foes into cheese.
For those of you eager to dive into modding, check out Larian: Channel From Hell where Aoife expertly breaks it down with a spotlight on standout recommendations. Although we’re nearing the conclusion of our feature-rich updates for Baldur’s Gate 3, this does not signify an end for our mod tools. Thanks to the ongoing support from mod creators within the community, who continue to try out new features, we have significant updates planned, including enhanced functionality to help you narrate your own tales.
Before saying farewell to Faerûn in pursuit of uncharted territories, we have one more significant update approaching. Set to arrive next year, this patch will bring some of the most eagerly anticipated features to BG3: cross-play, photo mode, and 12 fresh subclasses.
Let’s delve into what you can anticipate in Patch 8!
Cross-PlayWhether you join PS5 users from your PC or engage with Mac players from your Xbox, Baldur’s Gate 3’s multiplayer will soon support seamless cross-platform progression and cross-play – the way gaming was meant to be experienced.
Once live, you’ll be able to invite friends straight into your cross-play lobby, regardless of their platform, and discover multiplayer lobbies with friends on other systems through the Larian Network.
Currently, Baldur’s Gate 3 is enjoying a 20% markdown on Steam, GOG, and PlayStation!
SubclassesPatch 8 will introduce charming new dimensions to your favorite class, adding a unique subclass to each existing Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard class available in the game.
Get ready for new abilities, animations, VFX, summons, and cantrips, featuring unique spoken dialogue lines for the Oathbreaker Knight, with narrative reactivity for Oathbreakers, spiced with a bit of homebrewing on select actions to amplify your role-playing experience.
Bard – College of GlamourAs a Bard from the College of Glamour, you’ll discover how to heal allies and command adversaries. Cast Mantle of Inspiration to grant your companions 5 temporary hit points. If an enemy attacks during this time, they will become Charmed. With strategic finesse, you can exploit this advantageously using Mantle of Majesty to command Charmed enemies to flee, approach, freeze, hit the ground, or drop their weapon.
Barbarian – Path of GiantsChoose the Path of Giants for might that enables you to toss both allies and opponents effortlessly. Abandon the potion consumption to boost muscles; these Barbarians benefit from the Giant’s Rage passive that augments strength and size, allowing additional damage with thrown attacks. Don’t worry about loaded pockets anymore, thanks to your increased carrying capacity!
Cleric – Death DomainAs a death cleric, dark new possibilities await you, with spells focusing on necrotic damage and three novel necromancy cantrips. This includes Toll The Dead, a cantrip inflicting 1~8 damage when your cleric rings the bell of doom—a figure that intensifies if the target has prior damage. Additionally, we’ve added a homebrewed power to explode nearby corpses, injuring enemies.
Druid – Circle of StarsThese Druids gaze skyward for answers, unlocking powers surpassing traditional wildshapes by adopting one of three Starry Forms—the constellations of the Archer, Chalice, and Dragon. Each favors distinct play styles: the Archer delivers radiant damage with astral arrows, the Chalice restores hit points to you and nearby allies, while the Dragon offers additional bonuses to constitution rolls, enabling damage dealing. Starry Forms not only present a celestial aesthetic but also provide strategic, powerful choices to boost your healer, fighter, or strategist roles.
Paladin – Oath of the CrownVow to sustain the tenets of law, and you’ll receive power to aid companions and thwart adversaries. Guide your team with Righteous Clarity, taunt enemies with strategic interruptions, and maintain your party’s strength using Divine Allegiance, absorbing damage while healing them.
Fighter – Arcane ArcherCombining the arts of archery and sorcery, the Arcane Archer subclass introduces exclusive skills alongside new shooting animations. Send enemies to the Feywild, removing them from battle for a term, or deliver Psychic damage compelling a Wisdom saving throw or risk being blinded till the next round.
Monk – Drunken MasterBring the brew to homebrew; as a Drunken Master, imbibe alcohol directly from your inventory or bottles around the Sword Coast to regain Ki. Utilize Intoxicating Strike, an attack involving booze sharing with foes, creating buffs to your Armour Class and greater chances to strike Drunk targets. Drunk enemies are also vulnerable to other Drunken Master abilities, like Sobering Realisation—which sobers drinker foes, delivering physical damage alongside Psychic damage.
Ranger – SwarmkeeperThe Swarmkeeper subclass equips Rangers with three lethal swarms to bolster combat. The Cloud of Jellyfish inflicts extra lightning damage—potentially shocking enemies. The Flurry of Moths provides Psychic damage, offering potential to Blind foes. The Legion of Bees deals piercing damage, forcing enemies to make a Strength-saving throw or be knocked back 15ft. Each swarm also gives teleportation capabilities!
Rogue – SwashbucklerThis new Rogue subclass provides a variety of actions suitable for the piratical life. Get crafty by tossing sand at enemies to Blind them. Flick your weapon at a target to Disarm them. Or employ your passive Fancy Footwork while meleeing foes to ensure they can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn.
Sorcerer – Shadow MagicEmbrace a form of magic leaving you most lethal in darkness as a Shadow Magic Sorcerer. This subclass enhances your sorcerer’s realm with Superior Darkvision and the ability to Shadow Walk between dimly lit or dark areas. It allows you to summon the meticulously homebrewed Hound of Ill Omen to hassle adversaries and utilize Strength of the Grave to halt being downed—perfect for Honour Mode attempts.
Warlock – HexbladeHexblade Warlocks forge pacts with Shadowfell beings manifesting as mystical weapons. Curse foes and subjugate their souls. Defeat any adversary not an element of nature, construct, colossal blob, or previously deceased, and you’ll be able to raise their spirit for ten turns. This new summon inflicts necrotic damage and strips a piece of your enemy’s soul to heal your Hexblade Warlock.
Wizard – BladesingingThe Bladesinging subclass harmonizes swordplay with magical prowess. Anticipate novel spellcasting animations when casting spells with your weapon, a new Bladesong ability for enhanced speed, agility, and focus, including a bonus to all Constitution-saving throws.
Photo ModeCapture moments from your game with the ability to finally trade fish photos for ones of your Hound of Ill Omen. Photo Mode debuts in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3!
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Photo Mode functions similarly to a photo booth, granting the freedom to set up and capture virtually any scene. A wealth of options is available to customize and edit your in-game photography, with a variety of settings, whether you’re capturing while adventuring or during combat, dialogue, and cinematic scenes.
Camera SettingsEasily accessible from the HUD, close to the minimap, or using the hotkey (F9 on PC, and both analog sticks simultaneously on console); you’ll assign a character to the spotlight, find their best angle, and adjust the camera to fit.
While adventuring with party members, you’ll achieve seamless scene setup—including summons and Wild Shape forms! For budding virtual photographers, enable the camera reticle and composition grid to perfectly align shots.
Lens SettingsOnce the angle and positioning are settled, explore the Lens Settings, adjusting Field of View, Exposure, Depth of Field, and Focus.
Scene SettingsNuisances in your frame? Toggle off Party, NPC, or Enemy characters.
Challenge yourself with creative endeavors, setting the stage for a fully theatrical Faerûn musical—select a facial expression, along with 40+ static and animated poses in numerous variations to achieve perfect composition.
Internal playtesting for Patch 8 is thoroughly underway. Here, we wish to spotlight a few splendid photos our playtesters have created using photo mode, showcasing their distinct editing and creativity!
Post Processing EffectsWhile cinematic sequences and dialogues do not permit alterations to your party or manipulation of lenses and camera settings, you can color-grade your images and experiment with contrast, saturation, highlights, brightness, and vignette.
Morphic Pool, by Celia Medvescig, PlaytesterFramesElevate your scene by including diverse frames and letterboxing for cinematic shots.
Crèche, by Michael Simard, PlaytesterStickersOpt from among 300+ stickers and add up to 30 to each scene, including emojis, icons, blood splatters, textures, objects, items, and even cat ears.
Unlock new levels of role-play with unparalleled combinations of poses, stickers, and frames. We eagerly await the fantastical creations you will produce.
A romantic moment between custom characters, by Helena Van de Veire, PlaytesterPatch 8 Stress TestThanks to your feedback and support, our previous patch produced significant game changes with only two bug-fixing hotfixes post-launch. We see that as a success, and aim to replicate this feat with Patch 8. Let’s discuss the stress testing approach!
What are we stress-testing?Join us for stress testing, test-driving new subclasses, exploring Tav’s optimal angles with photo mode, and enjoying cross-platform play with friends. Indeed, this test welcomes Xbox, PlayStation, and PC users!
Why do we need to stress test Patch 8?Our target is to exceed internal trials, aiding in catching bugs prior to patch release.
In addition to new features in Patch 8, we are integrating numerous bug fixes and fine-tuning cinematics, ensuring that Shadowheart’s hair dye remains vibrant when swimming with a romantic partner. We’ll share further updates on what’s fixed soon!
When does the stress test begin?Testing is slated to start in early January, with opportunities to register interest beforehand. The process is changing a bit this round, and we’ll be back with Community Update #31 to elaborate on what’s being tested and how to engage!
Don’t wait up, dear friend, we’ll talk with you soon.
Best Community Support Nomination at The Game Awards 2024It’s an immense honor to receive numerous nominations for Baldur’s Gate 3, with the Best Community Support nomination at The Game Awards 2024 truly tugging at our heartstrings.
Your spirited fan art, fantastical fanfiction, and charming mods have been our fuel, and we eagerly anticipate the passion you’ll bring to our future games.
If you wish to support us in this year’s The Game Awards, vote for Baldur’s Gate 3 as Best Community Support before December 11th by clicking here. Watch the live ceremony on December 12 at 7:30pm EST on The Game Awards YouTube and Twitch channels.
A Very Larian ChristmasAs December beckons, we welcome back a little advent surprise with delightful treats for both naughty and nice.
Stay tuned later this month for puzzles yielding rewards to treasure and recollect!
