It seems like players can’t quite get enough of Baldur’s Gate 3, and Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts are in for a treat next year. There’s new content on the horizon that might just entice dedicated fans to dive into the game for an eleventh time. As for me, I’m still trying to wrap up my very first playthrough.
Larian Studios, via their social media and a recent Steam blog post, revealed that Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t finished receiving major updates. Contrary to their previous statements of having wrapped up development for the sprawling RPG, they appear to be caught in a compelling cycle of continuous expansion—much like the developers behind Terraria and Binding of Isaac.
Even with a flurry of user-generated mods enhancing the current experience, Larian is set to deliver even more enhancements to their adoring fan base. Next year brings Patch 8, which they’ve assured us is definitively the last—seriously. This update is packed with enticing new features like cross-play, photo mode, and 12 fresh subclasses. While players have long clamored for a photo mode, the addition of cross-play is a delightful twist, turning Baldur’s Gate 3 into the ideal social game for endless sessions. With the introduction of new subclasses, it seems players will be eager to revamp their characters once more. The D&D diehards are having a field day.
The introduction of cross-play means full cross-platform progression, allowing lobbies to be created and shared across different platforms. However, it’s still unclear if these lobbies can be made public to invite random players into the fray.
Photo mode, on the other hand, will launch with a slew of features. Players can tinker with camera settings, scene modifiers, post-processing effects, frames, and even stickers. Given the creative ingenuity of the community—especially when paired with mods—we anticipate some wonderfully chaotic results.
As for the subclasses, Patch 8 will breathe new life into all 12 classes. Here’s a quick look at what’s to come:
– 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 addition to these updates, January will see ‘stress tests’ to fine-tune crossplay and address a slew of other issues before the full patch release. So, don’t expect the final rollout before February 2025. Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you updated as more details on the patch emerge.
