Despite initially releasing in 2023, one of the most pivotal moments of Baldur's Gate 3 came with the addition of official mod support last year. Some dedicated players had already been contributing to a modding scene in the months prior, but Larian Studios providing an in-game platform for their distribution has elevated the title to having a notably strong community in the wider RPG space. With comparisons to Skyrim's longevity growing alongside the constant development of more mods for Baldur's Gate 3 on a daily basis, there's genuine potential for it to last for over a decade as modders' understanding of its architecture only grows. In an ironic turn of events, however, Larian's consistent support of the game with substantial patches has started to introduce conflicts of compatibility with some of the title's most popular mods.
Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 8, the final major official patch, is soon set to bring cross-play and a brand-new subclass for all twelve of its base classes. This is an impressive feat for any free update in a video at all, but the fact that the developer is committed to this so late after launch is even more anomalous and commendable. While it doesn't diminish that accomplishment, the fact that this patch will inevitably cause mods to no longer function properly is admittedly a significant downside.
Multiclassing in Baldur's Gate 3 Can Be a Recipe for Disaster
Multiclassing is one of Baldur's Gate 3's most powerful features, but it can come with some devastating consequences if used incorrectly.
The Changes of Patch 8 Have Gotten in the Way of a Foundational Baldur's Gate 3 Mod
ImpUI's Creator Stepping Away is Likely to Create Issues for Some of the Most Popular Mods
As one of the most important aspects of the wider BG3 modding community, ImprovedUI has served as more of a prerequisite than an individual addition to the game of its own. It has become a required component to have in order to support many of Baldur's Gate 3's most popular mod offerings, but keeping up with Larian's support has proven to be a challenging undertaking for the modder who has contributed this vital work so far.
In an update on the page for ImpUI, its creator stated that they will no longer be keeping up with the next update, seemingly leaving Baldur's Gate 3's Patch 7 as its last supported version. It's understandably concerning that many mods could become broken in the coming weeks, but it's also important to consider that having to keep up with so many changes to the extent of BG3's vanilla product is not a common occurrence in any game's post-launch progression.
The End of Major Updates to Baldur's Gate 3 Will Bring Stability to the Modding Scene
Patch 8's Early Period May Be the Game's Toughest Time for Mod Compatibility
There are several exciting elements at the forefront of Patch 8's additions to Baldur's Gate 3, with the likes of Photo Mode and notable quality of life updates potentially being seen as less significant aspects by comparison, but this trade-off may not be worth it for players with heavily modded save files. For several weeks following the debut of the new patch, it won't be surprising to see what could end up being game-breaking errors occurring when attempting to load up saves with mods that simply haven't had time to make the adjustment. For the sake of mitigating risk and inconvenience, Larian will probably once again provide the option to hold off on updating until a later date.
The Void Left By ImpUI is Unlikely to Remain Vacant for Long
With the number of contributors operating in the space, the chance of someone else stepping into the role of ImpUI's creator is relatively high leading up to the next update. While the level of work which goes into these projects can amount to a surprisingly intense degree of investment, the sheer popularity of Baldur Gate 3's community content presents a broad incentive for keeping its best mods alive.
Baldur's Gate 3
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- August 3, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- December 7, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- September 6, 2023
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
