The developers of Baldur’s Gate 3 have invited players to register for a stress test of the upcoming patch. In a community update post, Larian Studios has asked fans of the multi-award-winning RPG to test out the new cross-play feature in Patch 8 before its full release within the next few months.

Baldur’s Gate 3 continues to dominate the RPG landscape with its complex narrative and gameplay, which consistently has tens of thousands of players daily, according to SteamDB. The much-requested feature of cross-platform gameplay between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players will be fully implemented in Patch 8, which will be the last major update of Baldur’s Gate 3. Before the patch’s full implementation (which currently does not have an official release date), Larian has asked fans for assistance with a stress test, which will also give a preview of the last substantial patch for BG3.

What Has Larian Announced in Their Latest Community Update for BG3?

Cross-play And Photo Mode Are Highly Anticipated Features

In a Baldur’s Gate 3 Steam Community update post on January 16, Larian Studios invited fans to join the stress test. Currently, players from Xbox, PlayStation, and PC will be able to test the cross-play feature through the Larian Network by experimenting with the multi-platform lobbies. While Larian has reassured Mac players that cross-play will be implemented with the release of Patch 8, gamers on Apple systems will not be invited to participate in the stress test.

During the Patch 8 stress test, registered Xbox, PlayStation, and PC players will be able to test out cross-play by either creating or joining a lobby and inviting friends through the Larian Network. With such a large technical feature being implemented, we’re keen to see how you get on with cross-play during the stress test so that we can make any small changes before Patch 8 is released! – Larian Studios, Steam Community

Along with the stress test, Larian Studios have also reminded players of the brand-new photo mode and 12 subclasses which will be introduced in Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3. The subclasses, which include an entertaining Drunken Master Monk, will be implemented along with various bug fixes and improvements to the mod manager. Further information regarding the utility of the photo mode in BG3 has also been explained, and Larian has also celebrated 100 million mod downloads since its addition in Patch 7.

Our Take: BG3’s Final Major Patch Promises an Epic Finale

A Celebration Of Larian’s Achievements

Custom Image by Jessica Mills-Cox

Baldur’s Gate 3 has consistently delivered robust updates since its initial debut through early access in late 2020, which highlights Larian Studio’s commitment to community-driven feedback and implementation. Many of the key features, like the Magic Mirror, mods, and various other enhancements, were all added to BG3 as per the request of fans. The various awards and achievements garnered for the game were assisted by an unwavering commitment to enhancing the player’s experience. A stress test for the requested cross-play feature clarifies Larian’s desire for a smooth and impactful final patch.

While it is deeply saddening to realize that Baldur’s Gate 3 will receive no further major content updates, as Larian is moving onto their new project, Patch 8 will ensure that the game will be replayed for years to come. BG3 may end up with the longevity of RPGs like Skyrim thanks to the massive scale and quality of the game. As players wait for the full release of Patch 8 of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian is encouraging fans to sign up for the stress test here.