Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 notes add cross-play and 12 new subclasses
The final major patch for Baldur's Gate 3 is teeming with new features and bug fixes.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most beloved games of the generation, and developer Larian Studios has continued to support it since its August 2023 launch with new content and features. This week, the studio is releasing the final major update for the game. It brings highly-requested features like Photo Mode, cross-play, and 12 new playable subclasses. Here are the patch notes for Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 notes
Larian Studios posted the patch notes for Baldur’s Gate 3 patch 8 on the game’s website. Here, they confirm that this will be the final major update for BG3, and thank fans for their enthusiasm and support over the years. The studio also released an animated short in collaboration with Spud Gun Studios to commemorate the release.
Steam Trading Cards
- Baldur’s Gate 3 now supports Steam Trading Cards! And you thought you’d never get them.
- Collect the unique trading cards to craft badges, and unlock exclusive profile backgrounds and emoticons to use anywhere on Steam! Speaking of Steam, Baldur’s Gate 3 is now on sale with 20% off until April 21st:
Cross-Play
- Players on PC, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 will now all be able to enjoy Baldur’s Gate 3 multiplayer, with full cross-platform progression and cross-play.
- Using the Larian Network, you can now join and create cross-play lobbies to take on your adventures together.
Cross-Play & Mods
You’ll be able to continue to enjoy creating chaos with mods in cross-play, but it’s important to note that all players joining the lobby must have the same version of mods installed. When joining a host’s game, you’ll be prompted with the Mod Verification window to enable, upgrade, downgrade, or install any missing mods.
If you are a PC player creating a cross-play lobby, keep in mind you can use the “Available on Console & Mac” tag to browse mods that will be compatible with consoles and Mac, and that the mod limit on consoles is 100. Third-party mods cannot be used on consoles.
Using Cross-Play
How to join another player in multiplayer via cross-play:
- On the main menu, select “Multiplayer”.
- Select the “Cross-Play” tab.
- Join the other player’s lobby.
- If you or the host are using mods and there are any discrepancies, the Mod Verification window will open to inform you of which mods need installing, uninstalling, or updating.
How to create a cross-play multiplayer lobby:
- Access multiplayer.
- Select “Cross-Play”.
- Select “Create”.
- Customise your options and select “Launch”.
- Get started with cross-play by following our video guide!
Photo Mode
Position and pose your party, play around with camera settings, and whack a few stickers on there. Photo Mode is now yours to explore with Patch 8!
Getting Started
To test out Photo Mode, toggle it on or off by pressing down on both analog sticks if on console, or by pressing F9 if on PC. You can also enable Photo Mode by clicking on the Photo Mode icon on the HUD minimap.
Exploring Camera Settings
When you’re adventuring with your party, you’ll be able to alter their positioning and try different facial expressions and poses, while making the most of the camera, lens, and scene settings, even during combat encounters.
While you won’t be able to change the position of your party or camera angle during dialogues and cinematic scenes, you will still be able to enjoy a range of post-processing effects, including colour-grading settings, frames, and stickers.
Photo Mode & Modding
Speaking of stickers, Photo Mode already includes more than 300 stickers, but keen modders out there will be able to create and upload their own via the BG3 Toolkit!
New Subclasses
One new subclass for each playable class is now available, featuring new abilities, animations, VFX, unique summons, powerful cantrips, and voiced dialogue for the Oathbreaker Knight for those playing as the Oath of the Crown Paladin subclass!
Packed with new ways for you to play, whether you want to roleplay the God of Thunder by using Elemental Cleaver, imbuing your Path of the Giant Barbarian’s hammer with shocking damage and flinging it out for it to come back to you, or as a drunken monk, with truly homebrewed abilities that will enhance your next playthrough, there’s surely a subclass for you!
- Path of the Giant Barbarian
- College of Glamour Bard
- Death Domain Cleric
- Circle of Stars Druid
- Arcane Archer Fighter
- Way of the Drunken Master Monk
- Oath of the Crown Paladin
- Swarmkeeper Ranger
- Swashbuckler Rogue
- Shadow Magic Sorcerer
- Hexblade Warlock
- Bladesinging Wizard
Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding
Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit
As well as Patch 8, the Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding Toolkit is receiving an update, which means mod authors will now be able to explore partial level editing! Whether you fancy creating your own NPC, dropping a metric ton of carrots across every existing level just for the sake of it, pledging your undying love to Shadowheart by turning all wolves into bunny rabbits or by moving them to the House of Hope, you’ll now be able to use the Toolkit to add or override certain template types in existing levels.
Partial level editing means that what you won’t be able to do with the official Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit is add dialogues or change the static parts of the world like buildings, scenery or terrain. You can, however, create your own interactive objects like a chest that teleports away every time you get close to it - no one will touch your belongings ever again! Including you. Or you could make a salami statue that you can put in your pocket. The world truly is yours.
Modding Guidelines Update
To support the new realm of possibilities with the latest Toolkit update, we have now updated the modding guidelines with new information, and will continue curating mods for console. As part of this update, we have reviewed technical requirements, and unfortunately, mods that introduce new playable races are unable to be curated for console. If you’re a mod author, we suggest giving the guidelines a read by clicking here.
UI Functionality Improvements
We have been continuing to work closely with mod authors to ensure there are fewer conflicts between game mods and new patches, particularly for those that have ImpUI as a dependency. While the ImpUI mod isn’t currently being maintained, to help keep things running smoothly and to support the creative passion of those in the modding community, we’ve introduced minor changes to how some functionalities are handled in the Toolkit. Now, mod authors will be able to make changes directly for mods that rely on UI tweaks during Character Creation.
The changes now supported natively in the Toolkit include:
- Action Resources
- Racial spells at LevelUp
- Race passives
- UI scrolling for Heads, Passives, Equipment, Class, Subclass, and Origin selection
- Feat passives
- Radial customisation and descriptions
Thank you to Djmr for their incredible work on this mod and for keeping in contact with us while we resolved the conflicts and introduced this functionality, as well as Caites, both who have been particularly helpful, and whose names now lie firmly in the Baldur’s Gate 3 game credits, along with the mod authors who have been helping us test Toolkit functionality!
Mods In Patch 8
As Patch 8 begins to roll out, please remain patient and respectful of those in the community who put work into creating their mods. Some things might not work immediately after a new update and it might take a little while before a mod can be updated. If you can’t wait to dive in but are worried about your mod list, we recommend starting a new playthrough to enjoy the new subclasses and to try out photo mode.
Patch Notes
Along with the new additions, Patch 8 also tackles a range of bugs, like fixing Shadowheart’s penchant for hair dye while skinny dipping, Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region, and we’ve resolved an issue with the moving platform in the Gauntlet of Shar that has accidentally proven harder to survive than, well, the actual Gauntlet of Shar.
Highlights
Photo Mode
12 brand new subclasses – one for each class, including: Path of the Giant Barbarian, College of Glamour Bard, Death Domain Cleric, Circle of Stars Druid, Arcane Archer Fighter, Way of the Drunken Master Monk, Oath of the Crown Paladin, Swarmkeeper Ranger, Swashbuckler Rogue, Shadow Magic Sorcerer, Hexblade Warlock, and Bladesinging Wizard
Cross-play
Xbox Series S split screen
Gameplay
- Fixed containers inside inventories not scattering their contents when they get destroyed, which could potentially lead to key quest items getting lost for good.
- Fixed an issue where picking up items from the ground in multiplayer could then block movement via the controller stick.
- Fixed the Wild Shape: Panther's Prowl action and Prowling condition not working correctly.
- When you succeed a Perception check, the spotted item will now ping on the minimap and be listed in the combat log.
- Fixed an issue where the special abilities of some of your allies weren't properly provided at the end of the dialogue with them at High Hall.
- Scrolls and potions inside unlocked containers in your party inventory can now be used when rolling in dialogues.
- Neutral and friendly NPCs will no longer become hostile when, outside of combat, they walk into surfaces created during combat that trigger passives (like electrified surfaces triggering Thunderbolt Strike). Take it easy, lads.
- Fixed Freecast being reset when any condition is applied.
- Fixed characters getting stuck when pathfinding via a ladder that's already in use by another companion.
- Fixed a bug with the moving platform in the Gauntlet of Shar that would sometimes leave you behind, causing you to plummet to your death.
- The Self-Same Trial in the Gauntlet of Shar will now offer a proper challenge to those using modded classes.
- Fixed an error when joining a game via a friend invite on Xbox.
- Fixed War Magic being active before Extra Attack, forcing the player to use a bonus action before getting access to other Extra Attacks.
- Eldritch Knights now properly use free Extra Attacks before their War Magic attack.
- Fixed Valiant Damage not triggering properly.
- Fixed an issue with Shadow Blade spells and the Knife of the Undermountain King dagger not granting Advantage against an obscured target.
- Fixed a bug where moving the controller sticks in specific directions wouldn't register any input.
- Fixed Jhannyl's Gloves not correctly triggering the Defy Villainy passive that casts Lesser Restoration.
- Updated Elemental Weapon to allow all damage types at all spell levels and include upcast benefits at Levels 5 and 6.
- Examining in-world surfaces with the 'Pin Tooltip' keybind now correctly displays the tooltip.
- Fixed a bug causing keyboard input to block if you spam the Level Up button and the Esc key.
- Fixed a potential blocker causing mouse input to get disabled when clicking an enemy's portrait as they die.
- Fixed a blocker when a follower or summon used the Scrying Eyes in the Iron Throne.
- Fixed a blocker when you tried to use any item while your character was Knocked Down.
- Fixed the game freezing when dragging items while trading or bartering.
- Fixed a multiplayer issue where the host would get a black screen for 15 seconds when transitioning to a crime dialogue.
- Fixed an Honour Mode issue at High Hall where all party members would die when reaching the top of the stem if anyone in the party was being dominated by an enemy, causing a Game Over.
- Fixed the skiff at the Morphic Pool sometimes appearing in the wrong spot or floating in the air.
- Fixed body type 1 duergar incorrectly receiving halfling stats instead of dwarf stats.
- Fixed Gimblebock getting stuck if his attack triggered a Reaction.
- Fixed characters not being able to pick up any items if an invalid pickup request was, somehow, stored in the savegame.
- Fixed a bug causing non-Dark-Urge avatars to say Dark Urge lines. You're not all obliged to be wretched things with headaches.
- Fixed a bug where difficulty and game settings wouldn't save properly when adjusted after experiencing a Game Over in Honour Mode.
Combat
- Fixed an issue causing neutral NPCs to trigger combat for seemingly no reason.
- Cerys will stop getting involved in combats with Minthara from across the region. An eager beaver no longer.
- Fixed a bug causing damage riders to be added multiple times in Honour Mode.
- Fixed Sneak Attack not activating for actions that spawn additional projectiles, like Curving Shot.
Modding
- Fixed an issue causing you to get stuck at a 0% loading screen when attempting to join a multiplayer session that uses mods.
- The Mod Verification window will now trigger regardless of where the request to connect to a multiplayer game is coming from.
- Replaced the third-party mod warning with clearer messaging.
- Fixed a mod issue preventing some modded classes and subclasses from levelling up.
- Fixed a bug causing the Mod Verification window to appear empty and preventing you from closing it if you get a warning about insufficient storage before it opens.
- You can now navigate between the left and right columns of the Installed tab in the Mod Manager with a controller.
- Improved Character Creation functionality for modded games.
- The Mod Verification window will now also appear on PC for console-related mod issues to account for cross-play.
Performance and Options
- The Steam Deck's default FSR setting is now FSR 2.2 on 'Quality'.
- Fixed the ruleset selector not appearing on the 'Alter Custom Mode' screen when accessing the ruleset settings via the multiplayer lobby.
- Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
Scripting and Flow
- With 12 new subclasses arriving in Patch 8, we’ve rechecked some achievements, including ensuring the armed version of Stunning Strike no longer counts as an unarmed attack for the Fists of Fury achievement, and its unarmed variant now does.
- Monks' Unarmed Strike bonus action now also correctly counts toward the Action Surge achievement.
- Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion that Gandrel has been looking for him even if Gandrel refused to tell you the name of his prey.
- Fixed a savegame issue where you wouldn't get the appropriate amount of Umbral Gems for the Gauntlet of Shar.
- Halsin will now show up to your camp in Act II as long as you saved him, even if you happened to skip the celebration with the tieflings at camp.
- Minthara now comments on the Emperor's reveal.
- Reminded Minthara that 'knocked out' does not mean 'dead', so she'll more reliably appear in Moonrise Towers.
- You can no longer teleport out of Moonrise while controlling Minthara unless you tell her to stay put.
- Minthara is now willing to talk to you after you tell her to wait in the torture chamber.
- Minthara no longer gets stuck babysitting Thaniel in Act II.
- Fixed an issue where you could talk about Art Cullagh as though he's alive even if he isn't.
- Your character will no longer think Shadowheart is dead if she isn't when talking to Viconia.
- Characters who were in a relationship with Gale when he sacrifices himself in the endgame to defeat the Netherbrain will now receive a tonally appropriate (read: lovey-dovey) letter that was missing.
- Fixed a dialogue issue preventing Avatar Gale from talking about the orb to Lae'zel after consuming a magic item.
- You should no longer be able to ask Shadowheart about her Shar worship after recruiting her at the Goblin Camp if you don't know about her faith.
- Shadowheart's wound flare during the Arabella scene in the Emerald Grove will not be considered to have triggered when Shadowheart wasn't present in the dialogue.
- Fixed various Background Goals that weren't triggering.
Animation
- Added dance animations for some creatures that didn't have it, like ettercaps, kobolds, and harpies.
Art
- Fixed an issue causing the Flaming Fist armour to clip and generally freak out a bit.
- Fixed some clipping and textural issues with the Barbarian starting armour when worn by body type 1 gnomes.
- Fixed the Cleric starting armour bouncing around a little too much when worn by body type 1 characters.
UI
- Discovered and available (non-hostile, alive, etc.) traders are now shown on the world map regardless of how far away you are from them.
- Fixed button or keyboard shortcut inputs in the UI sometimes not working.
- Fixed some Reaction tooltips like Divine Allegiance not showing some values correctly in the description.
- Fixed a bug causing the UI to lock up when rapidly switching between keyboard and mouse input and controller input.
- Fixed a bug where opening the Main Menu on controller wouldn't automatically select the 'Resume' option at the top of the menu.
- Fixed a bug where you'd have to deselect your current passive when respeccing a character before selecting a new one. Now, you can just click the new one.
- Mentioned the damage that Corrosive Spit deals in its condition tooltip.
- Updated the names of the condition tooltips for the Dilophosaurus wild shape's Corrosive Spray spell, adding 'Dissolving' and 'Dissolved' for clarity.
- The Tides of Chaos passive tooltip now correctly states that it only works for ability checks.
- Updated the Lifedrinker tooltip to match functionality; it does not require Pact of the Blade.
- Rephrased the Hexblade's Curse tooltip to prevent the technical text '+ProficiencyBonus' from appearing in Character Creation and Level Up.
- The Acolyte of Nature passive tooltip now shows up in the Character Sheet as
- Fixed the controller UI not accurately showing when you're logged into your Larian Account, which could cause cross-play connection issues.
- Fixed the multiplayer session manager panel not populating properly for players that connected while the panel was open.
- Fixed a bug where if a user tried to join your session while you were filling out a user report, cancelling the request would close the report window in the background instead of cancelling the request.
- Fixed the body type slider sometimes skipping through a choice on controller.
- Fixed the 'No savegames available.' message showing up in the background while the game is loading the list of saved games on controller.
- Updated the credits to include developers who have worked on the game since release, playtesters, moderators, and Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit testers. Also updated the order of the voice actor credits to prioritise larger roles at the top.
- Fixed a bug causing an empty text-input panel to pop up and block gameplay.
- Fixed an '%%% Empty' passive feature appearing for rogues during Character Creation.
- Fixed a 1-frame glitch where swapping between two party members' Inventories would briefly show the first character's equipment in the inventory of the second character.
- Fixed the tooltips for the combat log not consistently appearing on controller even if you have the tooltips toggled on.
- Fixed a bug preventing you from pasting special characters into the password form when logging into your Larian Account.
- The filters in the multiplayer lobby now filter properly.
- Fixed the generic icon for some passive features missing from their tooltips in the Character Sheet.
- Fixed visual issues with the white translucent VFX that appears over portraits in the Party Line, caused when dragging one character's portrait over another's.
- Fixed the character tooltips that appear beside character portraits on the Party Line not showing up correctly on hover.
- Fixed a tooltip bug while trading where hovering over any equipped item would display a faulty tooltip, but trying a second time would magically fix it. The tooltips now populate correctly the first time around.
- Fixed a bug causing the sliders in the Gameplay options to autoscroll continuously when the left stick is flicked to the left or right.
- Fixed an issue causing the game to freeze for a second when switching between two characters with the Character Sheet open.
- Fixed a bug on controller preventing you from scrolling through the spells in the Replace Spell UI when levelling up.
- Fixed the footwear slot in the Character Sheet deciding to just not show up.
- Fixed the ‘Venture Forth’ text shaking during Character Creation while the button is held down on controller.
Sound
- Added a new spot where the easter egg song plays. Happy hunting!
- Restored some of the original music from the scene with Ansur before its rework.
Cinematics
- Shadowheart has agreed to stop repeatedly changing her hair colour during certain intimate moments.
- Tidied up and improved some cinematic animations for characters of different heights if you kiss during the evil ending.
- Fixed the VO getting cut off prematurely for githyanki and drow characters entering the Shadow-Cursed Lands for the first time.
Writing
- Fixed a duplicated dialogue option and the wrong version of another dialogue option appearing in Minthara's main party dialogue.
Multiplayer
- Fixed a crash on the client's end when a local host attempts to start split screen.
- Fixed a bug preventing you from logging back into your Larian Account after losing internet connection.
- Fixed a bug preventing a host from inviting a client whose game is suspended to the multiplayer lobby. The client would instead get a persistent 'Please wait...' message.
- Fixed an issue causing random session time-outs and disconnects for multiplayer clients.
- Fixed a loop on PS5 that would keep taking you back to the PlayStation Plus upgrade screen if you try to join a lobby without permissions.
The full patch notes continue with hundreds of bug fixes for Baldur’s Gate 3. As for what’s next, we know that Larian Studios is working on two new games. Stay tuned for what’s next from one of the hottest developers in the industry.
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replyDonovan Erskine posted a new article, Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 notes add cross-play and 12 new subclasses
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