Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 launched on 15 April 2025 on PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox, and Larian Studios called it the “final major game patch”. It added 12 new subclasses, Photo Mode, crossplay and split-screen on Xbox Series S. Since then only hotfixes have followed, the latest being Hotfix #36 on 26 March 2026. Here’s what Patch 8 changed, what came after it and where the game stands as of 20 October 2026.
What Patch 8 added
According to the official announcement on Steam, the headline features are:
- 12 new subclasses, one for each class.
- Photo Mode for snapping your party.
- Crossplay between PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox.
- Split-screen on Xbox Series S, which didn’t have it before.
- A Toolkit update for mod makers, now with partial level editing.
- Steam trading cards.
- A long list of bug fixes, including Honour Mode fixes.
One small change you’ll notice straight away: when you pass a Perception check, the item you found now shows up on the minimap and in the log.
The 12 new subclasses
Each of the twelve classes got one new subclass. They come with new abilities, animations, effects, summons and cantrips, and the Oath of the Crown Paladin also gets voiced dialogue with the Oathbreaker Knight.
| Class | New subclass | Subclass chosen at |
|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Path of the Giant | level 3 |
| Bard | College of Glamour | level 3 |
| Cleric | Death Domain | level 1 |
| Druid | Circle of Stars | level 2 |
| Fighter | Arcane Archer | level 3 |
| Monk | Way of the Drunken Master | level 3 |
| Paladin | Oath of the Crown | level 1 |
| Ranger | Swarmkeeper | level 3 |
| Rogue | Swashbuckler | level 3 |
| Sorcerer | Shadow Magic | level 1 |
| Warlock | Hexblade | level 1 |
| Wizard | Bladesinging | level 2 |
Every subclass for every class is listed in our classes and subclasses guide.
Photo Mode
On PC you toggle Photo Mode with F9 or the icon by the minimap; on console you press down both analogue sticks. You can position and pose your party, play with camera and lens settings and add stickers, of which there are more than 300. During dialogue and cutscenes you can’t move the camera or your party, but effects, colour grading, frames and stickers still work.
Your shots are saved here:
- PC:
C:Users[username]DocumentsLarian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3Screenshots - Mac:
~/Pictures/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/Screenshots - Console: in your media gallery.
Crossplay and split-screen on Series S
Patch 8 brought players on PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox together. Crossplay runs through a Larian account that you link your platform to, and it includes cross-platform progression. The step-by-step setup is in our multiplayer and crossplay guide.
Xbox Series S owners finally got split-screen, meaning local co-op for two players on one console.
Mods and the Toolkit after Patch 8
The official Toolkit gained partial level editing with Patch 8. Consoles have a limit of 100 installed mods, and mods that add new playable races can’t be approved for console. How to install mods and why the game has no classic cheats is explained in our cheats and mods guide.
What came after Patch 8
Hotfixes #30 to #36 followed Patch 8. Two of them are worth knowing about:
- Hotfix #34 (23 September 2025) brought a native Steam Deck build that runs without Proton. On Deck, the default upscaling has been FSR 2.2 Quality since Patch 8.
- Hotfix #36 (26 March 2026) fixed crashes and a framerate drop when loading a save. As of 20 October 2026 it’s the latest announced update.
Major patches before Patch 8
- Patch 3 (September 2023): Mac support and the Magic Mirror for changing your character’s appearance.
- Patch 5 (30 November 2023): Honour Mode, Custom Mode and an epilogue.
- Patch 7 (5 September 2024): the Mod Manager, the official Toolkit, 13 new “evil” ending cinematics and dynamic split-screen.
Honour Mode from Patch 5 was tweaked again in Patches 7 and 8, as covered in our Honour Mode guide.
What happens next
According to Larian, no new story content or significant changes to the story, Origin characters or companions will follow Patch 8. Only minor bug fixes are planned. Back at PAX West 2024, Swen Vincke said the team would “hang the armour on the wall” and focus on the next project. That project is the new Divinity game.
Larian hasn’t released any DLC and isn’t planning further major updates. Whether the game will reach more platforms, Switch 2 included, is covered in our price and platforms guide.
Join our Discord to share your Photo Mode shots or ask how others are getting on with the new subclasses. Come say hi on the GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
On 15 April 2025 on PC, Mac, PS5 and Xbox. Larian called it the game’s final major patch.
Larian isn’t planning another major patch. Since Patch 8 only hotfixes have been released, the latest being Hotfix #36 on 26 March 2026.
Press F9 or click the icon by the minimap on PC; on console, press down both analogue sticks.
Path of the Giant, College of Glamour, Death Domain, Circle of Stars, Arcane Archer, Way of the Drunken Master, Oath of the Crown, Swarmkeeper, Swashbuckler, Shadow Magic, Hexblade and Bladesinging, one for each class.
Larian hasn’t released any DLC and isn’t planning further major updates. The studio is working on its next game, Divinity.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our BG3 guides section.