Larian Studios has rolled out Hotfix #20 for its award-winning D&D computer roleplaying game (CRPG), Baldur’s Gate 3. The new update still addresses the lingering issues stemming from the recently launched Patch 6, something that the past two hotfixes were also trying to achieve.
Following the release of the romance-centric BG3 Patch 6, players encountered a mix of welcome upgrades, but also caused unforeseen bugs. Reports surfaced from Baldur’s Gate 3 players detailing issues such as having extended conversations with invisible NPCs during multiplayer sessions.
Hotfix #20 not only targets troublesome bugs, but also brings specific enhancements to the character Minthara within Larian’s expansive Dungeons & Dragons RPG officially licensed from Wizards of the Coast. The update details were posted on the Larian Studios website and shared on social media, such as the official Baldur’s Gate 3 X (formerly Twitter) account.
Hotfix #20 is out now on PC, PS5, and Mac, alongside the Mac release of Patch 6!
For those on Xbox, keep an eye out for further updates on when Hotfix #20 will roll out for you.
This hotfix aims to address several bugs, glitches, and blockers, including community-submitted… pic.twitter.com/LNCoVYiHcn
— Baldur's Gate 3 (@baldursgate3) February 29, 2024
The development team outlined the key changes introduced such as addressing gameplay issues with Minthara, a drow character known for her disagreeable nature. Known as the favored antagonist in Baldur’s Gate 3‘s second playthrough, Minthara had inadvertently gained more independence than intended, which resulted in her failure to follow the party during specific acts.
The hotfix rectifies this issue and also addresses instances where Minthara refused to leave the party when desired. Players should now find her more open to continuing progress and staying with the group while retaining her strongly independent character traits.
The studio clarified that the hotfix does not alter Minthara’s personality but resolves a bug that previously hindered her from following the party during Act 2 or Act 3. Hotfix #20 extends beyond improvements to interactions with Minthara, tackling various other issues reported by players.
Notable fixes include resolving a black screen issue lasting 30 seconds for second players in split-screen mode, addressing combat stagnation due to environmental turn delays, and mitigating spam of trespassing dialogue outside the Steel Watch Foundry.
Additionally, Hotfix #20 introduces a safeguard that redirects players to the main menu if a save game failed to load correctly. Moreover, this newest update enhances the trading system by fixing a money exploit related to container opening during trading, and refining combat mechanics.
Notably, infinite money exploits have been curbed, including a bug that allowed players to duplicate Herdmaster Skardjall’s Scale Mail. Even the Forgotten Realms’ Volo the Bard wouldn’t have gotten away with that one for very long!
One other key improvement with Hotfix #20 is that finally macOS players will have access to Patch #6 improvements. It was a long wait for BG3 players using Macs while their PC, Playstation, and Xbox peers already enjoyed the last big patch’s enhancements.
The main highlights of Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix #20 include:
- Introduced safeguards for crashes, redirecting players to the main menu if trying to use a save game and fails to load.
- Fixed the black screen issue for the second player in split-screen mode.
- Resolved the bug preventing container opening during trading, eliminating a money exploit.
Fixed environmental turn delays causing combat stagnation. - Addressed an issue causing players to get stuck in combat after defeating Cazador.
- Rectified an infinite loot bug involving Herdmaster Skardjall’s Scale Mail duplication.
- Eliminated crime dialogue spam related to trespassing beside the Steel Watch Foundry.
- Fixed banding and shader issues in cinematics causing VFX artifacts.
- Resolved Minthara’s failure to follow the party in Act II or Act III.
- Fixed Halsin’s movement issues at Last Light in Act II.
- Addressed Minthara’s refusal to leave the party after being escorted out of Moonrise Towers.
- Fixed characters falsely claiming to be too busy to talk.
- Rectified missing tab textures in the Trade UI.
- Temporarily hid filter tabs for traders during bartering, pending further testing for reintroduction.
- Fixed a potential crash during the preload of complex cinematics.
Players can find the complete patch notes for Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix 20 on Larian Studios’ official website and on the Steam Community Page. One thing that still is not included in Hotfix #20 is official mod support. Baldur’s Gate 3 fans will have to wait a bit longer, but Larian Studios devs are working on it. So no need for threats, ok guys?
Larian Studios’s commitment to refining and enhancing the player experience is evident in the swift release of Hotfix #20. Have you encountered the issues the hotfix aims to resolve with your recent Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough? What other aspects of the acclaimed CRPG would you like to see addressed in future updates?
