Exciting News, Everyone!
It’s January once more! As our planet concludes another leisurely journey around the Sun, and as you peer into the misty future of 2025 like a groundhog seeking Spring, we’re diligently crafting your next reason to venture back into Faerûn.
Development on Patch 8 is progressing well, yet before we unveil the forthcoming stress test for you to potentially cause a delightful chaos, we’re incorporating some final enhancements and collaborating with our partners to ensure you can extensively test cross-play. We aim to open the Patch 8 stress test by the month’s end.
Today’s community update is here to refresh your memory about what’s arriving in our concluding major patch and to use the upcoming photo mode to celebrate some joyous creations you’ve shared with us along this journey. Somebody fetch a tissue—surely this can’t be the finale, can it?
Experiment with Cross-Play During the Patch 8 Stress Test
Picture a world, rejuvenated from its past pains, where Xbox, PlayStation, and PC gamers finally overcome the walls that once kept them apart. With Patch 8, we can unite across platforms in BG3, bonding over life’s important adventures: from smooching peculiar figures to tossing goblins from ledges.
During the Patch 8 stress test, registered Xbox, PlayStation, and PC users will have the opportunity to try out cross-play by either creating or joining a lobby and inviting friends via the Larian Network. Given the scale of this technical undertaking, we’re eager to see your cross-play experiences during the stress test, helping us finetune everything before the official release of Patch 8!
While Mac users will enjoy cross-play support from the official launch, regrettably, they won’t be included in the stress test this time around.
Register Now
If you haven’t yet signed up for the Patch 8 stress test to assist in ironing things out, there’s still time! Register your interest by clicking on the handsome banner below.
Want to participate from an Xbox? You’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub App to become one of the Xbox Insiders and join the playtest once the stress test kicks into action.
What’s Coming with Patch 8
The final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3 is nearly here, bringing coveted features including cross-play, photo mode, and 12 new subclasses. Discover more in our Community Update #30.
Upcoming Bug Fixes
Alongside new features, we continue refining the animations and addressing various bugs, including:
- Resolved an issue where the savegame wouldn’t reflect the correct number of Umbral Gems for the Gauntlet of Shar.
- Fixed a multiplayer session bug that stops progress at a 0% loading screen when mods are used.
- Your character will no longer incorrectly assume Shadowheart has perished when conversing with Viconia.
- Halsin will appear in your camp during Act II if you rescue him, even if the celebration with the tieflings is skipped.
- Enhanced performance in the Adamantine Forge.
- Minthara will now comment upon the Emperor’s revelation.
- Cerys will no longer inadvertently engage in battles with Minthara across the area, no more overenthusiasm.
- Reminded Minthara that being ‘knocked out’ doesn’t equate to ‘dead’, ensuring her reliable presence in Moonrise Towers.
- Prevented companions’ dialogues from being prematurely cut after Gale sacrifices himself alone at the game’s conclusion.
- Fixed an issue where Wyll wouldn’t comment on Astarion threatening you with a blade during Astarion’s beach recruitment scene.
- Barcus is no longer obscured by items like cauldrons at Last Light.
Improvements to In-Game Mod Management
- Replaced the third-party mods warning with clearer messaging.
- The Mod Verification window will now activate irrespective of the multiplayer connection request’s origin.
There are numerous more fixes in the works, and worry not, this isn’t our last venture into bug fixes.
Introducing New Subclasses
Get ready for 12 novel ways to experience Baldur’s Gate 3! Soon, a new subclass for each of the 12 classes will be unveiled, complete with fresh VFX and animations teased in Community Update #31. Is there any doubt you’ll want to try them all?
When they say not to touch the uranium.
Photo Mode
Patch 8 will also introduce photo mode, so prepare yourself for some snap-worthy moments, or if you’re like Karlach, to stare pensively into the distance as past regrets unravel.
While on your adventures around the Sword Coast, you’ll be able to switch photo mode on or off, experimenting with numerous settings tailored for your party, including during combat sequences. Position your allies to your liking, modify expressions to match the occasion, and play around with camera settings.
During dialogues and cinematic moments, although camera positioning won’t be possible, you’ll have a range of post-processing effects, like color grading, frames, and stickers, available whether wandering around Baldur’s Gate or sharing a tender moment.
To showcase the available poses in photo mode, we’re honoring some of your most admired memes and artworks from the community. Look through the gallery below and take a moment to visit the creators’ original posts to show your appreciation!
Find yourself a druid who can manage both. Shared on Reddit by u/bwubwerr.
Blade of Frontiers by day, nap enthusiast by initiative order. Shared on Reddit by u/Sporshie.
Even the Astral Plane can’t rescue you from the midweek grind. Artwork illustrated by mintcrows on X.
This will look brilliant over the fireplace in our pocket dimension. Shared on Reddit by u/NightwingMage.
Sweet dreams and all that. Posted to Tumblr by quacaserous.
While Patch 8 doesn’t permit romantic entanglements with a water elemental, you’re free to pursue whatever’s happening here.
The bearer of bad news. Shared on Tumblr by cyberth0t.
Thanks, Elminster. Shared on Reddit by u/grellskendyr.
No need to worry; they’ll leap down the moment you return to the top. Shared on Tumblr by lookitsstevie
But at least she looked cute while doing it, right? Shared on Reddit by u/urielopos
A true critical success. Frame from the iconic animation by 예이헴yayhem.
We eagerly await the creative flair you’ll unleash upon Patch 8’s release!
Minimum Specifications
With the arrival of Patch 8 ushering in new features and enhancements, we’ve adjusted the minimum specifications for Mac players. For optimal gameplay, upgrading to macOS 14 (version 14.7.1) or later is recommended. Systems unable to meet these specifications can continue enjoying Baldur’s Gate 3 up to Patch 6 by adjusting the game version setting.
- Right-click on Baldur’s Gate 3 in your Steam Library and select Properties.
- From the left sidebar, choose Betas.
- Utilize the Beta Participation dropdown to switch to release_patch6_hf9.
You’ll be able to continue with saves made on Patch 6.
100 Million Mod Downloads
As we step into 2025, we’ve surpassed 100 million mod downloads! Pat yourselves on the back for this incredible number.
Our team has resumed its regular schedule for curating mods for console users, so keep an eye out for new approvals coming soon!
