It seems like Baldur’s Gate 3 has no intention of winding down anytime soon. Even though many fans aren’t quite ready to leave the game behind, there’s exciting news on the horizon: more content is coming next year, which is sure to entice the die-hard players to embark on yet another epic journey. Personally, I’m still working my way through my first playthrough.
In a recent update shared through the game’s social media and a Steam blog post, it was revealed Baldur’s Gate 3 is far from receiving its last major update. Veteran players might recall Larian Studios previously suggesting they were wrapping up the sprawling RPG, but it looks like they just can’t resist diving back in. It seems they might be following in the footsteps of developers for Terraria and Binding of Isaac, who have also found it hard to say goodbye to their beloved creations.
Even though the game already enjoys a wealth of community-created mods, Larian isn’t slowing down in handing out more treats for fans. Coming next year is Patch 8, which has been touted as the definitive final update—this time for real. What’s in store? A host of goodies including cross-play, a long-anticipated photo mode, and a dozen new subclasses. The introduction of cross-play comes as a delightful surprise, potentially elevating Baldur’s Gate 3 into the ultimate social game for endless adventures. With new subclasses on the table, players new and old will likely be tempted to dive back in and create fresh characters. Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts must be thrilled.
Cross-play will allow for smooth gameplay across platforms, complete with cross-platform progression. While players will be able to create and share lobbies regardless of their device, it’s still unclear if these can be listed publicly for playing with strangers.
The photo mode will arrive with a variety of features, including customizable camera and lens settings, scene modifiers like poses and facial expressions, post-processing effects, frames, and even stickers. We can only imagine the creative (and perhaps risqué) antics that await when players combine these tools with mods.
Lastly, Patch 8 will offer a new subclass for each of the 12 classes. Here’s the lineup:
- Bard will delve into the College of Glamour
- Barbarian will embrace the Path of Giants
- Cleric will explore the Death Domain
- Druid will align with the Circle of Stars
- Paladin will swear the Oath of the Crown
- Fighter will become an Arcane Archer
- Monk will adopt the Drunken Master style
- Ranger will summon the Swarmkeeper within
- Rogue will swagger as a Swashbuckler
- Sorcerer will learn the ways of Shadow Magic
- Warlock will wield the Hexblade
- Wizard will master the art of Bladesinging
Moreover, ‘stress tests’ are scheduled for January, focusing not just on crossplay but also on a series of additional fixes bundled with Patch 8. This means we shouldn’t hold our breath for the final release before February 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting patch as it unfolds!
