Developer Larian has announced that the 8thand final patch forDungeons & Dragons-themedBaldur’s Gate 3will launch in 2025. The update will bring 12 new subclasses, one for each of the main classes, bringing new VFX, abilities, cantrips, summons, and more. The update will also contain cross-play and photo mode. Larian has said thatpatch 8 will be the final major updatefor the game, as they will be concentrating on developing other titles.
Having launched in August 2023,Baldur’s Gate 3has enjoyed considerable success. On Metacritic, the game achieves a 96 critic score and a 9.2 user rating. In March this year, the game reached the milestone of 15 million copies sold, giving Larian a $260 million pre-tax profit in 2023. And, it will be competing with entries likeNo Man’s Skyfor Best Community Supportat The Game Awards 2024.
The game itself has, according to Larian themselves, seen more than 3,000 user-generated mods, some of which have heavily influenced the latest sub-class additions. The studio not only accepts but welcomes user-created mods, and has said that it will continue to offer mod support.
Patch 8 updates
As well as new sub-classes, Larian has promised to bring cross-play toBG3. This means players on Mac, Windows, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 will be able to party up and play the same games.
Photo mode is also coming to the game as part of the patch. This will include quick access via hotkeys or pressing both analog sticks at the same time. Users will be able to alter the field of view, exposure, depth of field, and focus settings while toggling whether they want party members, NPC, or enemy characters in the photo. Frames and stickers can also be added.
What next for Larian?
The update is an extensive one, especially thanks to the new sub-classes and cross-play. However, the good news is tempered by Larian’s announcement that this will be the final major update for the game, saying they will be “wrapping up our feature-heavy updates forBaldur’s Gate 3.”
Larian is known for its production ofBaldur’s GateandDivinity: Original Singames and, in an interview last year, Larian CEO Swen Vincke said that the studio is working onDivinity: Original Sin 3.
The first title in the series,Divine Divinitylaunched in 2002 and several sequels followed, with the most recent beingDivinity: Original Sin 2, in 2017. Larian could be stepping away fromBG3development to concentrate onOriginal Sin 3or possibly developing a completely new RPG franchise.
