After prematurely going live on PS5 yesterday, Larian Studios’ stress test for Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now for the console alongside Xbox Series X/S and PC. You should have received an email on PS5 and PC after pre-registering while Xbox Insider Programme members can access it on Xbox.
The stress test focuses on Patch 8, adding long-awaited features like cross-platform play and Photo Mode. Check out the video below on setting up cross-play and creating a lobby. It’s worth noting that console players joining a PC lobby with mods should have less than 100 installed and only those supported on their platforms. Failure to do so means not joining the PC player’s lobby.
Another interesting new addition is the splitscreen co-op on Xbox Series S, a feature missing at launch due to performance constraints with the console. Check out the patch notes below for more details.
Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t have a release date for all players, but it’s out later this year. In addition to all the above features, it adds 12 new subclasses with unique traits.
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!
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.
- 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.
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!
