Though many players are still deeply immersed in their current adventures, Baldur’s Gate 3 is set to bring even more exciting content next year. For diehard fans, this news is sure to spark the desire to dive into an eleventh playthrough. Meanwhile, some of us are still navigating our very first journey through this expansive world.
The announcement came through the game’s social media channels and a detailed Steam blog post, revealing that Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t quite finished receiving major updates. Despite previous statements from Larian Studios that they were wrapping things up with the game, they seem unable to step away completely, much like the teams behind Terraria and Binding of Isaac, who are also known for their ongoing dedication to their projects.
The critically acclaimed game, which has even found its way into the Vatican (reportedly enjoyed by three individuals there), is currently a playground for a plethora of player-created mods. Undeterred by this bustling community, Larian is planning to shower fans with even more updates.
Looking ahead to next year, Patch 8 promises to be the definitive final update, truly the last one, bringing significant additions like cross-play, a photo mode, and the introduction of 12 new subclasses. While players have long been clamoring for a photo mode, the inclusion of cross-play came as a delightful surprise, positioning BG3 as the ultimate social game destined for countless hours of gameplay. And the new subclasses? Well, adventure calls once again for players itching to re-roll their characters. The Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts are certainly getting their fill.
The cross-play feature is particularly noteworthy, promising “full cross-platform progression, including cross-play.” This means players can create and share game lobbies across different platforms, though it remains to be seen if there will be options to list these lobbies publicly for broader community engagement.
The eagerly awaited photo mode is set to arrive loaded with functionality. Expect comprehensive camera and lens options, scene modifiers like poses and facial expressions, a smorgasbord of post-processing effects, frames, and even stickers. Let’s brace for the creative—and potentially chaotic—uses by players, especially when mods come into play.
Finally, Patch 8 will gift players a new subclass for each of the 12 classes. Here’s the lineup:
– 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
In preparation, there will be ‘stress tests’ in January, assessing both cross-play functionality and additional fixes arriving with Patch 8. This indicates that we shouldn’t anticipate the final release before February 2025. Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.
