Summary
Larian Studios has rolled out the first update for the Xbox Series X/S version ofBaldur’s Gate 3. The small release containing stability fixes arrives four days after the TGAGame of the Year 2023 award winner was shadow-dropped for Xboxconsoles.
Larian’s latest RPG has been widely touted as one of the best games of the year for months before the award season kicked off and cemented its legacy. Its immense success evenconvinced Microsoft to fast-track theBaldur’s Gate 3Xbox portby allowing Larian to omit the split-screen multiplayer mode from the Series S version of the game. For reference, the company normally mandates that all Xbox titles must offer gameplay feature parity between the Series X and Series S.
First Baldur’s Gate 3 Xbox Update Weighs 18.28 GB
Now thatBaldur’s Gate 3is finally out on all of its target platforms, Larian is fully focused on continuing to refine the game via updates. The first such patch for the Xbox version of the RPG rolled out on December 11, introducing a number of unspecified stability fixes. Although the developer described this release as a “small update,” player reports on social media suggest that the package weighs 18.28 GB. For reference, the Xbox Series X/S port ofBaldur’s Gate 3is approximately 137.55 GB in size, so this patch is equivalent to redownloading 13% of the game.
While the newly introduced update promises to eliminate some common causes ofBaldur’s Gate 3crashes on Xbox consoles, an issue making save files disappear after a crash has yet to be addressed by Larian. That said, the studio says it’s aware of the bug, implying it’s currently working on a fix. In the meantime, Microsoft is supposed to push out a new Xbox Series X/S update that will help deal with some disappearing saves issues on a system-wide level later today. However, multiple player reports and Game Rant’s own testing suggest that this patch still hasn’t been rolled out as of 11am ET on December 11.
The Xbox version of the game launched with all of its past updates, including themassiveBaldur’s Gate 3Patch 5that debuted in late November, introducing new game modes and story content, among many other changes. If the PS5 port of the RPG is any indication, its Xbox version will be updated simultaneously with the PC original moving forward.
Microsoft previously confirmed it will continue exploring the possibility of adding split-screen multiplayer to the Series S version of the game following its release. Even though that feature is currently missing from its budget console, Larian has already made somemassive progress in optimizing the Xbox Series S version ofBaldur’s Gate 3, further strengthening the notion that split-screen multiplayer on the system is not impossible in the future.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
