Baldur’s Gate 3 first released in August 2023 to rave reviews from players and critics. However, today sees the last major update applied to Baldur’s Gate 3, meaning it will no longer add new content or changes to its storyline or characters. A lot has been added in this final big update, so let’s take a closer look at what Patch 8 brings to Baldur’s Gate 3.
Steam Trading Cards
Baldur’s Gate 3 now supports Steam Trading Cards. These can be collected to craft badges, as well as unlock exclusive profile backgrounds and emoticons that can be used anywhere on Steam.
Additionally, up until April 21st, Baldur’s Gate 3 will be 20% off on Steam.
Cross-Play
You can now play Baldur’s Gate 3 with other players across multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. With the Larian Network, cross-play lobbies can be joined or created to allow players to come together.
With Cross-Play, Baldur’s Gate 3 can be played across multiple platforms with others.
Mods in Cross-Play
Some notes concerning mods in cross-play:
- While mods can be used in cross-play in Baldur’s Gate 3, all players joining the lobby must share the same version of mods installed. When you join a host’s game, you’ll be asked whether you want to install, enable, upgrade, or downgrade any missing mods.
- If you are on PC and creating a cross-play lobby, you can enable the “Available on PC and Consoles” tag to browse compatible cross-play mods.
- Mods are also limited to 100 on consoles.
- Third-party mods are also not available on consoles.
How to Use Cross-Play
How do you join a cross-play game? Here’s the step-by-step process:
- From the main menu screen, select Multiplayer.
- Choose Cross-Play.
- Join the other player’s lobby.
- If mods are present, you’ll see the message asking you whether you want to install, enable, upgrade or downgrade.
You might also be wondering how to set up a cross-play lobby. Here’s how you do it:
- Access multiplayer.
- Select Cross-Play.
- Select Create.
- Choose your options and then select Launch.
With Cross-Play, make sure there aren’t any conflicting issues with mods before playing.
Photo Mode
Baldur’s Gate 3 now has its very own Photo Mode with Patch 8.
How to Use Photo Mode
Photo Mode can be accessed in Baldur’s Gate 3 by doing the following:
- On PC: Pressing the F9 key.
- On consoles: Pushing down on both analog sticks.
- Photo Mode can also be accessed by selecting the Photo Mode icon on the HUD minimap.
While in Photo Mode, you’ll be able to:
- Alter the position of characters and change their poses and facial expressions.
- Change the settings of the camera, lens, and scene.
- Edit post-processing effects such as color-grading, stickers, and frames.
Photo Mode can be used in any situation, but during cinematics and dialogue, you won’t be able to change the character positions or camera angles.
Also, while Photo Mode already includes over 300 stickers, you can create and add your own using the Baldur’s Gate 3 Toolkit.
A game as gorgeous-looking as Baldur’s Gate 3 deserves a Photo Mode.
Where to Locate Screenshots
When you take photos via Photo Mode in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll be able to find them in the following places:
- PC: C://Users[username]DocumentsLarian StudiosBaldur’s Gate 3Screenshots
- Mac: ~/Pictures/Larian Studios/Baldur’s Gate 3/Screenshots
- Xbox and PlayStation consoles: Media galleries
New Subclasses
For each playable class, there is one new subclass. These include new abilities, animations VFX, unique summons, and powerful cantrips. Additionally, the Oathbreaker Knight has voiced dialogue if you’re playing the subclass Oath of the Crown Paladin.
All the 12 new subclasses are:
- Path of the Giant Barbarian
- College of Glamour Bard
- Death Domain Cleric
- Circles of Stars Druid
- Arcane Archer Fighter
- Way of the Drunken Master Monk
- Oath of the Crown Paladin
- Swarmkeeper Ranger
- Swashbuckler Rogue
- Shadow Magic Sorcerer
- Hexblade Warlock
- Bladesinging Wizard
There are lots of new subclasses to choose from with Patch 8.
How to Unlock the New Subclasses
To unlock these new subclasses, you need to level up. Which subclass you get depends on the level. Each subclass can be unlocked as follows:
- Level 1: Cleric, Sorcerer, Paladin, Warlock
- Level 2: Druid, Wizard
- Level 3: Barbarian, Bard, Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue
Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding
With Patch 8, there are a few additions regarding modding in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Toolkit
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Modding Toolkit has also received an update. You can now dabble in partial level editing. With the Toolkit, you can add or override certain template types in existing levels.
With partial level editing, there are a few things you can or cannot do:
- You cannot add dialogue.
- You cannot change static objects such as buildings, scenery, or terrain.
- You can create your own interactive objects.
- You can create your own NPCs.
- You can add objects.
- You can change the type of animals.
Modding has been updated with the latest Baldur’s Gate 3 patch.
Modding Guidelines Update
The latest update to the Modding Toolkit means changes to the current guidelines information. Mods will also continue to be curated for consoles. However, mods for new playable races will not be curated on consoles.
UI Improvements
There have also been some changes to how new mods and patches work together, based on feedback from the modding community. Mod authors will now be able to make changes directly for mods relying on UI tweaks in Character Creation. These changes include:
- Action Resources
- Racial spells at LevelUp
- Race passives
- UI scrolling for Heads, Passives, Equipment, Class, Subclass, and Origin selection
- Feat passives
- Radial customisations and descriptions
The last patch brings great new content, as well as plenty of bug fixes.
Patch Notes
Finally, the eighth and last big patch for Baldur’s Gate 3 comes with a TON of bug fixes. The full list of bug fixes is enormous, so if you want to see them all and find out if any bugs affecting your game has been addressed, check out the official patch notes.
That’s pretty much everything you need to know about Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3. On a final note, there will be a Twitch stream on April 16th showcasing the new features from Patch 8, including the new subclasses.
FAQ
What’s included with Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3?
Is this the last update for Baldur’s Gate 3?
Can I play Cross-Play in Baldur’s Gate 3 with mods?
Where can I find my photos taken in Photo Mode?
How many new subclasses have been added in with Patch 8?
How do I unlock the new subclasses included with Patch 8?
What does it mean by partial level editing?
Is Baldur’s Gate 3 currently on sale?
