Baldur’s Gate 3 Massive Patch Update Launches April 15, Adds Cross-Play

Baldur’s Gate 3’s upcoming Patch 8 adds 12 new subclasses and implements cross-platform play. The massive update arrives on all available platforms on April 15. 

To access cross-platform play, players must initially enable cross-play within the options menu. Then they must either create or join a lobby within the separate cross-play menu, which is located towards the right of the multiplayer menu. Larian Studios shared a video with detailed instructions on how to cross-play in Baldur’s Gate 3. 

Meanwhile, Patch 8 adds one new subclass for each of the existing Bard, Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard classes in the game. IGN details the new subclasses – the official Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch Notes do not include descriptions of the new subclasses.

Here are the official Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 Notes: 

Patch 8 Highlights

While some of you will get to try out Patch 8 for yourself, starting today, here’s just some of what you can expect with Patch 8 once it is ready for release! SPOILERS – Please bear in mind some of the entries below might contain spoilers, proceed at your own risk

Highlights

• Photo mode
• 12 new subclasses
• Cross-play
• Xbox Series S split screen

Gameplay

• 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.

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.

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.

Performance and Options

• 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

• 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.
• 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.
• Fixed a dialogue issue preventing Avatar Gale from talking about the orb to Lae’zel after consuming a magic item.

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.

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.

Writing

• Fixed a duplicated dialogue option and the wrong version of another dialogue option appearing in Minthara’s main party dialogue.

Patch 8 will bring a multitude of fixes for various crashes and blockers, combat bugs, scripting and flow issues, and more. The full patch notes will be shared once Patch 8 goes live!

Reporting Bugs During The Stress Test Internal playtesting has been ongoing for several weeks now, and thanks to the introduction of photo mode in Patch 8, our playtesters have discovered new means to highlight some interesting issues.

While we don’t expect you to showcase every unexpected bug you run into (please, don’t do that), we would be grateful if you could report any issues you experience in the Patch 8 stress test using the existing bug reporting form. Please make sure to state “Patch 8” in the Game Version field!

Known Issues As the Patch 8 stress test is a work-in-progress build, we’re aware of some issues, and have listed the ones relevant to the new features coming in Patch 8 below!

Modding

• While it’s our hope that supported mods remain mostly unscathed with Patch 8, this stress test also helps us understand how your mods interact with the latest patch and identify any issues ahead of release.
• ImpUI users may find that radial descriptions aren’t visible, and some menu options don’t work as intended. If you are joining us for the stress test, we recommend creating a new save or loading an existing save that does not use ImpUI or any mods that use ImpUI as a dependency.

Photo Mode

• Photo Mode becomes visually corrupted when using Vulkan.

Cross-Play & Multiplayer

• Some lines in the cross-play settings aren’t fully localised.
• Players in a multiplayer lobby can lose movement input after picking up an item.

UX

• Some keyboard hotkeys and controller buttons may stop working after trading with merchants.

Gameplay

• Gale refuses to eat his magical items, even after requesting them.

Baldur’s Gate 3 released on August 3, 2023 for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The DND inspired title won multiple awards, most notably earning 2023’s Game of the Year during The Game Awards alongside Best Game at the BAFTA Games Awards.