Even though many of us are still knee-deep in our current adventures, Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to expand again next year with fresh content that’s sure to entice the most devoted fans into yet another epic playthrough. Meanwhile, I’m still just trying to wrap up my first journey.
Recently revealed through the game’s social media and a detailed Steam blog post, Larian Studios confirmed that they aren’t quite finished with their major updates for Baldur’s Gate 3. Despite earlier declarations that they were closing the chapter on this RPG giant, it seems the call of the game keeps pulling them back. They might just end up in a continuous cycle of updates, akin to what we’ve seen with games like Terraria and Binding of Isaac.
This acclaimed title, which even managed to capture the interest of a trio at the Vatican, thrives on a wealth of user-generated mods. However, Larian is intent on showering their community with additional delights.
Slated for next year is Patch 8, which the developers assure is the absolute final, bringing features like cross-play, a photo mode, and 12 fresh subclasses. The community has long clamored for a photo mode, so its inclusion is no shocker, but cross-play is the kind of unexpected treat that turns Baldur’s Gate 3 into a prime social gaming experience. And with these new subclasses, I imagine fans will eagerly roll new characters once more, much to the joy of Dungeons & Dragons aficionados.
The introduction of cross-play promises full cross-platform progression, extending the playability across different systems. Lobbies can be easily created and shared between platforms, though it’s still a bit hazy if we’ll be able to list games for public matchups.
When it comes to the photo mode, players can expect an array of features, from camera and lens adjustments to scene modifiers like poses and facial expressions. Add post-processing effects, frames, and stickers into the mix, and it’s likely the community will get creative—possibly in ways we can’t even imagine yet, especially when paired with existing mods.
This massive update, Patch 8, is also set to unveil a unique subclass for each of the 12 main classes. Here’s a quick sneak peek, but for full details, I suggest checking out the official post:
– Bard – College of Glamour
– Barbarian – Path of Giants
– Cleric – Death Domain
– Druid – Circle of Stars
– Paladin – Oath of the Crown
– Fighter – Arcane Archer
– Monk – Drunken Master
– Ranger – Swarmkeeper
– Rogue – Swashbuckler
– Sorcerer – Shadow Magic
– Warlock – Hexblade
– Wizard – Bladesinging
Additionally, Larian has slated ‘stress tests’ for January to refine the cross-play features and bundle in extra fixes with Patch 8. It seems safe to say that we shouldn’t hold our breath for the final release until at least February 2025. We’ll keep you posted with the latest updates on this exciting patch as they roll out.