When Larian Studios announced that Patch 8 would be the final major update for Baldurs’ Gate 3, it was a definitive end of an era for fans who had followed the game since its Early Access period. With fans expecting no more than the occasional bug fix, players were left wondering what was next for the franchise’s future. However, Baldur’s Gate 3 players on Xbox and PlayStation were graced with an onslaught of modded content in a recent update, granting them the opportunity to continue their playthroughs with a little extra flair.
Baldur’s Gate 3 PC players have been spoiled for options since launch, since they never had obstacles to downloading anything. However, console owners have had to patiently wait for official channels to enjoy some of BG3’s most iconic mods. Yet, this update was an unexpected treat that may actually be a sign of what is to come.
Related
After Baldur’s Gate 3, One Major Feature is a Clear Must-Have for BG4
If Baldur’s Gate 4 hopes to win over the hearts of Baldur’s Gate 3, it should definitely steal one of the game’s most popular features.
Equal parts treat and beacon of hope, BG3’s console update signifies that Larian isn’t quite done spoiling fans with content. This update added a total of 26 new mods for console players. The mods range from purely aesthetic to adding new weapons and resources to the game.
While the current wave of console mods is modest compared to what’s available on PC, it still sets an exciting precedent. The fact that the studio is willing to curate and deploy fan-made content on consoles, especially after declaring the end of major updates, signals a possible shift in how the studio engages with its community as Larian moves onto other projects. And with so many beloved mods still absent from the current rotation, it feels unlikely that this is a one-and-done situation.
For console players who once watched from the sidelines, this is a rare chance to further personalize their adventures in Faerun and to do so with Larian’s blessing. If this is the tip of the iceberg, then Baldur’s Gate 3’s story isn’t over just yet.
For months, it seemed like console players had to accept that they’d always be a step behind PC when it came to modding Baldur’s Gate 3. BG3’s Patch 8 came and went, the “final” major update rolled out, and while mod support had technically arrived, the offerings were somewhat limited. They were neatly packed into a curated list and never quite ventured toward the most experimental mods.
And they were definitely scarce compared to the arsenal available in the wild for PC players. At the time of release, players assumed what they saw was what they got due to any future update being focused on hotfixes. The sun was setting on meaningful content, leaving a fandom to only resort to their inner communities. But this latest wave of mods says otherwise.
Instead of shutting a door, Larian has cracked a window. Even though Larian will not make Baldur’s Gate 4, it has proven yet again that it is deeply invested in the product it has released for the Baldur’s Gate franchise. These newly available console mods didn’t just pad out the experience; they reinvigorated it. With fresh gameplay tweaks, expanded customization options, and more creative flourishes from the community, console players are finally starting to feel the modding magic PC users have enjoyed since launch.
Larian knows what it’s doing. By dropping a batch of unexpected curated content well after its last major patch, the studio is signaling that Baldur’s Gate 3 still has room to grow, just in less traditional ways. Now is the perfect time to play Baldur’s Gate 3, now that the definitive version of the game is here, and Larian has shown it will still support it beyond major patches.
The groundwork is already in place. Now it’s just a matter of time before even more community-made content makes its way to consoles. Surely there will be more batches of mods released, perhaps even themed drops or collaborations with top creators. So no, Patch 8 may not have been a dead end after all. Not if these recent mods are anything to go by.
9/10
August 3, 2023
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Divinity 4.0
