"Latest Major Patch Details for Baldur's Gate 3 Revealed"

On January 28, the closed stress test for Patch 8 of Baldur's Gate 3 commenced on both PC and consoles, marking the final major update for this acclaimed game. This patch introduces 12 new subclasses, cross-play capabilities across platforms, and a sophisticated photo mode, significantly enhancing the gaming experience. Let's delve into how these additions elevate one of the most celebrated games of modern times.

Table of Contents

• New Subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3
• Photo Mode
• Cross-Play
• Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

New Subclasses in Baldur's Gate 3

Each of the twelve classes in Baldur's Gate 3 will now have a unique subclass, each accompanied by fresh spells, dialogues, and visual effects, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.

Sorcerer: Shadow Magic

This dark subclass empowers sorcerers to summon a hellhound for immobilizing foes and to create a veil of darkness visible only to them. At level 11, they gain the ability to teleport between shadows, making them a formidable force on the battlefield.

Warlock: Pact Blade

Warlocks forming a pact with a Shadowfell entity can enchant a weapon to become magical from level 1. By level 3, they can enchant another, and at level 5, they can strike three times per turn, potentially tipping the scales of combat in their favor.

Cleric: Death Domain

Clerics in the Death Domain specialize in necrotic spells that bypass enemy resistances, offering abilities to resurrect the dead or cause corpses to explode. This subclass is perfect for players who prefer a darker, non-healing religious role.

Wizard: Blade Song

Wizards activating Blade Song gain ten turns to accumulate special charges through attacks and spells, which they can use to heal allies or deal damage to enemies, making them versatile in melee combat.

Druid: Circle of Stars

Druids in the Circle of Stars can switch between constellations to gain bonuses, enhancing their adaptability on the battlefield and allowing them to fulfill various roles effectively.

Barbarian: Path of the Giant

Barbarians on the Path of the Giant can enter a rage to increase in size, throw weapons with enhanced damage, and add elemental effects. Their weapons return to them after throwing, and they gain improved throwing skills and higher carrying capacity.

Fighter: Mystic Archer

Mystic Archers blend magic and archery, firing enchanted arrows that can blind, deal psychic damage, or banish foes, reflecting traditional elven combat techniques.

Monk: Drunken Master

Monks using the Drunken Master style rely on alcohol-induced strength to deliver devastating physical attacks, making enemies more vulnerable to subsequent strikes.

Rogue: Swashbuckler

Swashbucklers, a true pirate archetype, excel in close combat with dirty tricks like throwing sand to blind enemies, quick thrusts to disarm, and taunts to demoralize, making them a favorite among Astarion fans.

Bard: College of Glamour

Bards from the College of Glamour are the rock stars of the Forgotten Realms, using their charisma to charm enemies into submission, making them flee, approach, freeze, fall down, or drop their weapons.

Ranger: Swarmkeeper

Swarmkeepers command hordes of tiny creatures, such as bee swarms to repel enemies, honey swarms to stun with shock, and moth swarms to blind opponents. Switching swarm types is only possible upon leveling up.

Paladin: Oath of the Crown

Paladins following the Oath of the Crown are the epitome of lawfulness and righteousness, gaining abilities to boost allies, draw enemy attention, and absorb damage, focusing on team-based play.

Photo Mode

Players can now enjoy an advanced photo mode with extensive camera settings and post-processing effects, ensuring high-quality screenshots that capture the beauty and intensity of Baldur's Gate 3.

Cross-Play

Cross-platform multiplayer is now available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Windows, and Mac. The closed stress test primarily focuses on fine-tuning cross-play functionality to ensure a seamless experience across all supported platforms.

Gameplay, Combat, and Story Improvements

Patch 8 brings numerous enhancements to Baldur's Gate 3, including:

• Items detected during Perception checks are now marked on the mini-map and logged in the battle journal.
• Ally abilities are now properly displayed after dialogues in the High Hall.
• Scrolls and potions in unlocked containers can be used during conversations.
• Neutral and friendly NPCs no longer become hostile when stepping on combat-created surfaces.
• Characters no longer get stuck climbing stairs occupied by companions.
• Moving platforms in the Shan Trial no longer cause characters to fall to their deaths.
• Neutral NPCs no longer initiate combat without cause.
• Keris no longer engages in unnecessary fights with Mintara.
• Fixed a loading screen freeze at 0% when joining modded multiplayer sessions.
• Improved server performance in the Adamantine Forge.
• Fixed an issue where you could tell Astarion about Gandrel looking for him, even if Gandrel refused to reveal his target.
• Mintara no longer gets stuck while watching over Taniel in Act 2.
• Your character no longer mistakenly believes Shadohurt is dead if she isn't.
• Discovered merchants now appear on the world map regardless of distance.

Patch 8 for Baldur's Gate 3 is set to release in February or early March 2025. After this update, Larian Studios will shift focus to bug fixes, with no further major updates planned.