Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8: Crossplay, Photo Mode and 12 New Subclasses Mark a Grand Finale
Key Takeaways:
- Crossplay Revolutionizes Multiplayer: Full cross-platform progression will soon allow players to adventure seamlessly with friends across any platform.
- Photo Mode Enhances Creativity: Capture cinematic in-game moments with extensive camera, lens, and post-processing options, along with fun stickers and frames.
- 12 New Subclasses Expand Role-Playing Options: Each class gets a powerful new subclass, complete with unique abilities, animations, and voice lines, deepening the game’s immersive experience.
Baldur’s Gate 3, one of the most celebrated RPGs in recent years, is gearing up for its swan song with Patch 8, slated for release in 2025. Developer Larian Studios is pulling out all the stops, adding crossplay, a highly customizable photo mode, and 12 new subclasses to this Dungeons & Dragons-inspired masterpiece. As Larian shifts focus to new projects beyond Faerûn, this patch represents both a farewell and a testament to their commitment to crafting an exceptional gaming experience. Here’s everything you need to know about this monumental update.
The Dawn of Crossplay: Breaking Platform Barriers
For the first time, crossplay will bridge the gap between Baldur’s Gate 3 players across all platforms. Whether you’re on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you’ll be able to team up seamlessly using the Larian Network. This means you’ll soon have the ability to:
- Invite friends to join your multiplayer lobby, regardless of platform.
- Search and join multiplayer lobbies cross-platform without needing third-party workarounds.
- Retain your character progression across systems, letting you switch devices without losing progress.
Imagine continuing a co-op campaign started on PC with your friend who plays on PlayStation it’s a true game-changer for the community.
Photo Mode: Unleash Your Inner Photographer
Patch 8 is introducing a Photo Mode, designed to let players capture and share their favourite in-game moments with incredible precision. This mode isn’t just a throwaway feature it’s a robust toolbox packed with options to create perfect shots of your adventures through Faerûn.
Features of the Photo Mode
- Camera Settings: Choose your focal point, adjust angles, and center your favourite character in the frame. Options include toggling NPCs, party members, and enemies on or off to remove unwanted elements.
- Lens Settings: Control the depth of field, exposure, focus, and more to achieve the perfect look for your image.
- Scene Customization: Set up dynamic poses, adjust facial expressions, and even change the lighting to craft cinematic moments. Over 40 poses and hundreds of stickers ranging from emojis to blood splatters ensure you can create something truly unique.
- Post-Processing Effects: Add a professional touch with contrast, brightness, saturation, and vignette tools to elevate your snapshots to artwork.
From serene nature shots to high-action combat poses, Photo Mode lets you document your journey like never before.
The New Subclasses: Transforming Every Class
One of the most significant additions in Patch 8 is the 12 new subclasses, one for each existing class. These subclasses promise to deepen the gameplay, offering unique playstyles, spells, and animations that add fresh layers to Baldur’s Gate 3’s already rich role-playing system. Let’s take a closer look at what’s coming:
Bard – College of Glamour
Harness the power of charm and inspiration to turn the tide of battle. Abilities like Mantle of Inspiration give allies temporary hit points, while Mantle of Majesty lets you command Charmed enemies to follow your orders whether it’s dropping their weapons or fleeing in terror.
Barbarian – Path of Giants
Unleash your inner colossus! The Giant’s Rage passive increases your size and strength, allowing you to throw enemies (and allies) effortlessly. With boosted carry capacity and devastating Throw attacks, Path of Giants turns Barbarians into unstoppable forces.
Cleric – Death Domain
Delve into dark powers with necrotic spells and homebrewed abilities like corpse explosions, dealing area damage to enemies. Spells like Toll the Dead scale based on the target’s health, while other necromantic cantrips bring deathly precision to your arsenal.
Druid – Circle of Stars
Look to the heavens for power. The Starry Forms Archer, Chalice, and Dragon offer diverse strategies: deal radiant damage, heal allies, or boost constitution rolls while dealing damage. This subclass mixes celestial aesthetics with practical utility.
Paladin – Oath of the Crown
Swear to uphold law and order. With abilities like Righteous Clarity to guide allies and Divine Allegiance to absorb damage for your party, the Oath of the Crown Paladin is a steadfast protector in the thick of combat.
Fighter – Arcane Archer
Blend martial prowess with magic. Use enchanted arrows to banish foes to the Feywild or blind enemies with Psychic damage. Arcane Archers redefine versatility with a focus on precision and power.
Monk – Drunken Master
Fight with unpredictable grace. Drunken Masters can recover Ki by consuming alcohol and disorient enemies with abilities like Intoxicating Strike. Drunken brawls have never been this strategic or hilarious.
Ranger – Swarmkeeper
Command a swarm of allies to overwhelm your enemies. Choose between Jellyfish (lightning damage), Moths (Psychic damage and Blinding), or Bees (piercing damage and knockback). Swarmkeepers also gain teleportation capabilities, adding mobility to their toolkit.
Rogue – Swashbuckler
Live the pirate life with panache. Toss sand to blind enemies, disarm foes, and use Fancy Footwork to prevent opportunity attacks. This subclass is built for daring melees and creative combat solutions.
Sorcerer – Shadow Magic
Master the darkness. With Shadow Walk to teleport between dimly lit areas and abilities like Hound of Ill Omen, this subclass thrives in shadows, making it perfect for stealthy and strategic players.
Warlock – Hexblade
Forge a pact with the Shadowfell. Wield cursed weapons, summon undead spirits to fight for you, and gain healing from your enemies’ suffering. The Hexblade is a dark and devastating addition to the Warlock class.
Wizard – Bladesinging
Combine swordplay with spellcasting. The Bladesong ability grants enhanced speed, agility, and focus, while your Constitution saving throws ensure survival in the heat of battle. Bladesinging Wizards are the ultimate magic-melee hybrids.
Additional Improvements: A Polished Farewell
Alongside the major features, Patch 8 includes a wide range of bug fixes and cinematic improvements. Larian has confirmed tweaks like ensuring Shadowheart’s hair dye stays intact during romantic scenes, and the studio has plans for a stress test in early January to smooth out the patch’s launch.
Players can expect these updates to continue refining Baldur’s Gate 3, ensuring it remains a benchmark for RPG excellence long after Larian moves on to new ventures.
The Legacy of Baldur’s Gate 3
With Patch 8, Larian Studios is bidding farewell to the world of Faerûn, but the story doesn’t end here. Thanks to the release of official modding tools, the game’s thriving community will continue to expand and reimagine the experience for years to come. Over 3,000 mods have already been created, downloaded more than 70 million times, and Larian’s ongoing support promises even greater functionality for player-driven storytelling.
FAQs
1. When will Patch 8 release?
Patch 8 is expected to release in 2025. A stress test will be conducted in January to ensure a smooth launch.
2. Will crossplay include progression syncing?
Yes, cross-platform progression will let you carry your character across devices seamlessly.
3. Can I use Photo Mode during cutscenes?
While you can’t modify camera settings during cinematics, you can still adjust colors and effects in Photo Mode.
4. Are the new subclasses free?
Yes, all 12 subclasses are part of the free Patch 8 update.
5. What’s next for Larian after Baldur’s Gate 3?
Larian has hinted at exploring new worlds and moving beyond the Dungeons & Dragons universe for future projects.
