Good news for dedicated Baldur’s Gate 3 modders who have faced the tedious process of uninstalling and reinstalling mods with each game patch! Larian Studios is getting ready to release official mod support and cross-platform compatibility for BG3 – while also reminding fans to not resort to threats, which they really shouldn’t have to. Yet here we are.
Players have already been creatively developing and using Baldur’s Gate 3 mods to enhance various aspects of the game. Many of these mods introduce more Dungeons & Dragons TTRPG content such as new spells, character races, and backgrounds.
Larian Studios aims to streamline the modding process with official support. This should address the constant technical issues that occur when official patches and updates conflict with user-created mods, such as the recent Patch #6.
Michael Douse, Larian’s director of publishing, assured the community that the upcoming mod support is under active development, describing it as a “robust” system. However, an exact release date is yet to be disclosed, with Douse mentioning that the official support is slated for release sometime this year.
We have a system but it needs to be tested and still requires work. We’re excited about it. I understand that it suck’s when the game is updated and mods break. Our community teams will start talking with and looping in modding community. For now, work continues 🙂
— Very AFK (@Cromwelp) February 22, 2024
Addressing the challenges faced by modders when game updates render their modifications incompatible, Douse acknowledged the frustrations in a tweet, stating, “I understand that it sucks when the game is updated and mods break.” He further explained that the team is diligently working on a cross-platform plan for mod support, emphasizing the need for thorough testing.
Providing additional insights into the development process, Larian’s senior community strategist, WombatMedic, echoed Douse’s sentiments regarding the studio’s appreciation for the modding community. In a statement on the Baldur’s Gate 3 Discord, WombatMedic expressed empathy for players facing mod compatibility issues after each patch.
The senior community strategist detailed the studio’s commitment to ensuring a seamless experience for players using mods and highlighted ongoing efforts to introduce modding support for classes, UI, customization, spells, and specific game assets and mechanics.
The initial stages of modding support are expected to be rolled out in one of the next big numbered patches this year. WombatMedic emphasized Larian’s intention to collaborate with popular mod authors to address potential issues in the future. The community strategist also acknowledged the complexities of the undertaking, stating, “This is no small task.”
This would not be the first time Larian Studios provided official modding support for their game titles. The studio did the same for the Divinity: Original Sin games, Larian’s flagship RPGs prior to Baldur’s Gate 3. The Baldur’s Gate franchise itself has had a long history of mod support under Black Isle Studios for Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2.
Amid the development updates, Larian Studios urged fans to refrain from sending threats to the development team as they work on implementing mod support for Baldur’s Gate 3. Douse took to social media to address concerns and stressed the importance of focusing on the future of the game, stating, “Our focus is to patch the game while working on future mod support.”
The escalating emotions prompted several mod authors to pen an open letter to Larian, seeking improved community moderation and increased transparency regarding the status of mod support. Others however have not been as polite, to say the least.
Douse reiterated the studio’s commitment to maintaining open communication with the community but warned that if toxicity persists, the studio may need to distance itself. This follows a broader industry concern about toxicity, with recent instances of harassment and threats against game developers.
This is in line with Larian Studios’ support for the community of players and game devs. Douse, commenting after the studio’s Game of the Year win at the DICE awards, noted the industry’s tendency to undervalue developers and discussed the prevalence of layoffs within the gaming community.
As the BG3 community awaits the official mod support and cross-platform compatibility, players are encouraged to stay informed by monitoring updates on game’s official social media platforms. In light of recent tensions, the question remains: How can the community actively contribute to a positive and constructive environment during this crucial phase of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s long-term success?
