Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8: Closer to launch

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 8 – Stress Test Update 1 Patch Notes

Larian Studios, the developers behind the critically acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3, have released Stress Test Update 1, a patch designed to refine the gameplay experience ahead of the full Patch 8 release. This update signifies a key step towards the eventual public rollout of this substantial update, promising enhanced features and a more polished overall experience.

Gameplay

• Item Handling Improvements: Issues with item scattering and loss during inventory manipulations have been resolved, ensuring key quest items remain accessible.
• Paladin Spell Slot Fix: A critical bug affecting Oath of the Crown paladin spell slot adjustments upon leveling has been rectified.
• Multiplayer Item Interaction Fixes: Players will no longer encounter issues with item pickup and controller interaction in multiplayer, leading to smoother gameplay experiences for all.
• Wild Shape Refinements: Fixes have been implemented to ensure Wild Shape: Panther’s Prowl actions and their related conditions function as intended.
• Item Condition Bug Fix: A previously reported issue that caused item conditions (e.g., Elemental Cleaver) to disappear from equipped items has been resolved.
• Shadow Blade Update: The Shadow Blade spell now correctly maintains its caster lock functionality when used at higher levels.

Photo Mode

• Enhanced Photo Mode Interface: A new in-game pop-up within the Journal is accessible, offering quicker access to photo features.
• Steam Deck Integration: Improved compatibility with Steam Deck, enabling smoother access to screenshots through Steam’s integrated system.
• Multiplayer Photo Mode Stabilization: Prevents character interference in multiplayer cutscenes when activating Photo Mode.
• UI Improvements: Various UI refinements, including the removal of unnecessary elements and improved visual clarity during screenshot operations.
• Gameplay Pose Fixes: Fixes to character poses (e.g., wolves’ attack and jump animations) for more visually appealing content.
• Depth of Field Adjustment: Depth of Field slider improvements enhance slider functionality and proportional scaling.

Cross-Play

• Improved Party Joining: The client-side issue that caused loading screen issues during party joining after un-friending and re-adding the host has been addressed.
• Visual Feedback: Splash screen issues on PS5 have been fixed to ensure consistency across all platforms.
• Combat Crash Fix: A crash occurring at the start of combat has been eliminated for a smoother initial combat experience.

Subclasses

• Tooltip Accuracy: Booming Blade tooltip values are now accurately updated based on spell level.
• Subclass Data Correctness: Updated tooltips for Rakish Audacity to display accurate bonus values.
• Cantrip Compatibility: Improved compatibility with Potent Cantrip, adjusting damage output for Toll the Dead and Bursting Sinew.
• Pact of the Blade Fix: Corrected Pact of the Blade’s Extra Attack functionality to prevent unintentional application in certain scenarios.

Art

• Armor Functionality Fix: Fixes to the Flaming Fist armor, addressing clipping issues and rendering problems.

UI

• Gale’s UI Fix: Gale’s donation UI has been adjusted, preventing the blocking of item feeding.
• Character Creation Refinements: Hexblade class actions and subclass features now display correctly in the character creation process, providing accurate class representation.
• Input Handling: Resolved issues with button and keyboard shortcuts causing UI malfunctions.
• Tooltip Refinements: Improved accuracy of certain reaction tooltips, such as Divine Allegiance.
• Input Switching Optimization: Optimized UI responsiveness when switching rapidly between keyboard/mouse and controller inputs.
• Menu Navigation Fix: Ensure the ‘Resume’ option in the Main Menu is automatically selected when launching from a paused state using a controller.
• Cross-Play UI Fix: Fixes to display issues related to condition icons in the party line that occur in cross-play.
• Navigation Improvements: Added wrap-around navigation functionality to settings using controller inputs.
• Respeccing Simplification: Respeccing now allows the selection of new passives without requiring deselection of previous ones, leading to a more intuitive experience.
• Character Sheet/UI Fix: Fixed Illithid Powers’s UI elements and their functionality to ensure their display and interaction.
• Avatar Visibility Fix: Multiplayer/cross-play lobby avatar issues have been fixed.

Scripting

• Achievement Refinement: Achievement tracking has been adjusted to account for new subclass features and various gameplay mechanics.
• Action Surge Refinement: Monks’ Unarmed Strike bonus actions now correctly contribute towards Action Surge achievements.

Crashes

• Lobby Crash Fix: The crash associated with repeated lobby start attempts has been resolved.
• UI Stability: Several UI-related crashes and freezes have been fixed.
• Photo Mode Crash Fix: A crash affecting the Vulkan rendering system when using Photo Mode has been eliminated.