Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch #5 rolls out with a bucketload of fixes and gameplay content. To top it off, Larian Studios revealed their plans for the future of the game in a Community Update.
Since the game’s launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 has received a steady stream of update patches and hotfixes. These have mainly been fixes to bugs and glitches, as well as quality of life options. As earlier reported, Larian Studios was preparing for another large patch for Baldur’s Gate 3. Plus, the critically acclaimed video game developer teased there would be a lot of new content in store.
Even then, fans were blown away by how big the update was going to be. 30 gigs of storage was required, and a total of 130GB is needed. Larian Studios even suggested uninstalling Baldur’s Gate 3 to avoid any issues with the installation and patching.
Patch 5 is launching soon! This update will clock in at roughly 30GB and will require approximately 130GB of free space to install. If you find yourself without the space to install the update, we recommend uninstalling BG3 and then re-downloading the patched version.
— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) November 30, 2023
But while it is a huge patch, Larian Studios made sure it was worth it for BG3 players. Swen Vincke and his crew produced the biggest feature-filled patch to give players an incentive to keep playing in the Forgotten Realms, which is a tall order. After all, over 1.3 million BG3 players have already finished the game (according to Steam numbers).
So what did Larian Studios add to bring back seasoned veterans to go adventuring with their D&D party again? How about Epilogues? The Epilogue chapters added to Baldur’s Gate 3 with Patch #5 provide closure for how the main character progressed through the game.
This new Epilogue is set 6 months after the main story in BG3. It sees the player’s party gather in the camp High Hall. All the actions the players performed, for good or bad, will have a ripple effect on what transpires in the Epilogue chapter. This includes cinematics and news that has spread in Baldur’s Gate and its surrounding areas (reflected in the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette), based on what the player did throughout the story.
Patch 5 is now live for Baldur’s Gate 3!
Today’s update includes brand-new epilogue scenes, Honour Mode, and much much more.
For a detailed overview of Patch 5, check out the latest community update at https://t.co/fYZdZvuKIt
Want more info but in bite-size chunks? Read on! pic.twitter.com/lyI6SQgz7Y
— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) November 30, 2023
Fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 have lauded the care and attention to detail Larian Studios gave to each character’s story arc, including the main character, the Origins characters, and the major NPCs. This new Epilogue chapter provides a means of resolution, closing out the epic tale and that the developers hope will satisfy the fans. And to add some flair to the Epilogue, the characters receive new outfits.
But, wait. There’s more. Larian Studios also added two new game modes: Honour Mode and Custom Mode.
Honour Mode is like playing Baldur’s Gate 3 at hardcore difficulties. This is an even tougher challenge than the previous Tactician Mode. Bosses will now have Legendary Actions, similar to the D&D 5E tabletop rules. And there are over 30 other tweaks added to how boss battles will be fought in Honour Mode. However, if the player character dies, the Honour Mode ends.
But why would Baldur’s Gate 3 players opt for a harder run through the game and avoid dying until the end? Other than bragging rights, players who finish Honour Mode without dying receive a unique reward: the Golden d20. This changes the d20 that appears when making checks to a gold version.
Meanwhile, the Custom Mode is virtually the opposite. This mode allows players to choose various options for Baldur’s Gate 3 that customize the rules. A few examples include hiding enemy Hit Points in battle, Short Rests recovering full hit points, deactivating Death Saves, and hiding Perception checks. These options help give the BG3 gameplay experience a feel closer to the D&D TTRPG.
Other major additions to Baldur’s Gate 3 include easier inventory management for characters not in the active party, dynamic resolution for the Playstation 5, and performance improvements in preparation for the upcoming Xbox versions. And Korean players can now activate the Korean-language subtitles 안녕하세요.
For more information on the improvements and fixes in Patch #5, Baldur’s Gate 3 fans can check the game’s official website and the Steam Community page. In the meantime, Larian Studios promises more gameplay enhancements, as they are currently working on improving the kissing and intimate animations of all the romantic companions.
What do you think so far about Patch #5, the biggest update for Baldur’s Gate 3 yet? Do you like the addition of Epilogues to close out your adventures in the Forgotten Realms? How else can Larian Studios improve the Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year?
