Howdy gang,

One last update to share with you before we leave you to your tryptophanic rest this holiday season.

It’s been a banner December here for Larian. Last week, you helped us take home the Best Community Support award for the second year running. Then you nominated us for the Labor of Love category in the Steam Awards 2024. And we aren’t slowing down.

Much like a certain jolly elf and his industrious band of shorter elves, Swen and team are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the Patch 8 stress test build - set to go live in January. Read on to find out how you and your friends can take part!

We’re also winding down on mod curation for consoles during the holidays, which will resume as normal once we return refreshed in the new year! (If you’re unsure about the process involved in bringing mods to consoles and the guidelines we must follow, you can check out our latest video with Aoife by clicking here!)

And if you haven't dug into our official Advent Calendar yet, you're missing out on daily puzzles, new art and wallpaper inspired by Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin, instrumentals from BG3 composer Borislav “Bobby” Slavov, and a festive poem read by none other than Amelia Tyler - in which she offends all your poetic senses by rhyming “Northdark County” with “Tim Downey”.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Now On Sale

Give the gift of cross-play, and prepare your friends for Patch 8 with Baldur’s Gate 3 now on sale with 20% off across Steam, GOG, PlayStation, and Xbox!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1086940/Baldurs_Gate_3/ 

Patch 8 Stress Test

Available to players on Steam PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, you can now register to take part using the form linked below.

What are we looking to learn from the stress test?

A stress test aims to do exactly what it sounds like; rigorously test the latest game version to detect any instability or gameplay issues before Patch 8 releases. With your help, we’ll be able to keep an eye on any funny business.

Cross-Play

Bringing cross-play to a game the size of Baldur’s Gate 3 has been no easy task, and we want your help to test-drive this new functionality.

Share the stress test registration link to summon your friends and settle in for a cross-play campaign, or head to the Larian Studios Discord Server to look for a group to play with.

Patch 8 & Supported Mods

Supported mods should remain free of issues, however, this stress test is also a great opportunity to monitor how these mods interact with the new features Patch 8 introduces.

Discord Channels & Your Experience

Should you wish to take part, you’ll be able to submit responses in our feedback form to help us make any small tweaks and adjustments before Patch 8 is released. We’ll also have testing channels open in the Discord server, where you can call upon our Community Team for guidance installing the stress test and share information about your experience playing with Patch 8!

How can I take part in the stress test?

Whether you’re playing Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you now have the opportunity to register your interest to take part in the Patch 8 stress test!

Once you register, look out for a future email with details on how to access the stress test. The process will vary per platform, so please make sure all the details you’re submitting are correct.

Joining us from an Xbox? You’ll need to download the Xbox Insider Hub App to become an Xbox Insider and join the playtest from the app.

Please note: Registering your interest does not guarantee access!

Playing With Friends

For friends on a different platform, let them know the stress test is happening and share this link so that they can also register!

Ready? Click on the image below to sign up.

Patch 8 Stress Test FAQ
 

Q: Can anyone participate?
A: Unfortunately, GOG and Mac players won’t be able to join us for this one.

Q: How do I register my interest to join the stress test?
A: To register your interest, please follow this link: https://larian.com/stress-test-register 

Q: How do I register if I am an Xbox player?
A: If you’d like to join the Patch 8 stress test from your Xbox console, you’ll need to register for the Xbox Insider Programme and download the Xbox Insider Hub App. Look out for further announcements from us to know when the stress test is live!

Q: Can I stream or share footage/images from the stress test?
A: Feel free to post about your experience on social media, but please let your audience know you’re showcasing playtest footage. You know, in case there are any weird bugs. Want to deck out your stream with some BG3 overlays? Download them here!

Q: Will everyone gain access to the stress test on day one?
A: Access will be rolled out in waves, however, please note that registering your interest in the stress test does not guarantee access. 

Q: Will my save games from the stress test work with Patch 8?
A: We cannot guarantee that save games created during the stress test will remain compatible with the actual patch 8 release.

Q: Why do I need to give my location for a PlayStation code and not for other platforms?
A: Playstation operates regional stores so the code you receive needs to be region specific in order to properly function. For other platforms we can issue uniform codes globally.

Divinity Original Sin I, Now 90% Off

Not ready for your adventure to end? Pick up the award winning Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition, now on sale with 90% off until January 2nd.

Take on foes in the turn-based combat you know and love, and explore a world that reacts to who you are and the choices you make, while you fight to rid the world of those who use the foulest of magics. 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/373420/Divinity_Original_Sin__Enhanced_Edition/ 

Happy Holidays!

Got this far and still have no idea what we’ve been talking about? Check out our last community update for details on what’s coming with Patch 8, including 12 new subclasses, photo mode, and cross-play!

Now rest up, we’ll see you next year.

With love, 

Larian