11 Years Later, Pillars Of Eternity’s Surprise Update Could Make It The Perfect BG3 Follow-Up

In a surprising twist of fate, over a decade after Pillars of Eternity's release, the beloved CRPG will receive a substantive new addition. With Avowed's launch, it's evident that Obsidian is not finished with the world of Eora, and for good reason. Eora, by now, is a fully-fledged setting, with three games, a TTRPG system, books, and even a board game all sharing and expanding the universe.

Of course, Pillars of Eternity is what started it all. The Kickstarter CRPG had deep roots in the Infinity Engine games of old, such as Baldur's Gate and Icewind Dale, and successfully re-imagined those classics for modern gaming. Still, real-time with pause is a near-forgotten combat system that has likely deterred some players from experiencing the original. Similar to Baldur's Gate 3's decision to move past its series' roots, Pillars will be receiving its own turn-based mode that will make itmore accessible for both fans of BG3 and Eora by removing a barrier to entry for the excellent game.

Pillars Of Eternity Has More on The Horizon

A Smoother Experience All Around

Official Wallpaper Art from Pillars of Eternity

A forum post on the official Obsidian website laid out the surprise update for the 10th anniversary of Pillars of Eternity's release. The update primarily focused on a host of fixes and stabilizations, as well as a few quality-of-life features which all come together to make the game run and feel smoother than ever. Changes such as these are always appreciated, and can often have an understated impact on how a game feels to play.

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In a statement that, years prior, I would never have believed, that's not all for Pillars of Eternity in 2025. Pillars will, later this year, receive a turn-based combat mode that players can utilize instead of the traditional real-time with pause system. As seen with Baldur's Gate 3, while I personally enjoy real-time with pause and was initially disappointed by Larian's decision to abandon it, there's no denying that many fans prefer turn-based combat for BG3. Regardless of preference, more options are always better, especially for a game released a decade ago that will soon enjoy both combat systems.

Real Time With Pause Is Great, But Can Be Hard To Understand

Turn-Based Combat Is A More Readable Middle Ground

Even as a fan of real-time with pause, there's no denying that such a system can often be unwieldy. Pillars of Eternity has a party size of six, meaning that in any given combat, there are six fully kitted-out characters to control and optimize. That's a lot of characters to control, especially simultaneously, and as one would expect from a game within the CRPG genre, these characters aren't the run-of-the-mill, right-click-and-forget type either. Even traditionally simpler classes, like barbarian or fighter, have an abundance of combat actions to consider.

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Sometimes, that complex, on-the-fly decision-making and positioning is precisely what I'm looking for in a CRPG. Sometimes, too, the more structured decision-making of turn-based combat is more appealing, especially with the fatigue that can occur through the more chaotic alternative. As opposed to Deadfire, which made great strides in the action department, PoE's version is, sometimes, a deterrent to jumping back in. As such, a more laid-back, but still heavily tactical approach is just the push I needed to start a new playthrough.

PoE Will Be More Approachable Than Ever

Better Than Ever To Jump In

With nearly six million players entering Eora through Avowed, it's easy to assume that the IP has received some new fans. Pillars of Eternity laid so much groundwork for the IP, and did it through truly compelling character and world-building writing. While Avowed certainly built upon that world, it's nearly impossible for a more standard action RPG like Avowedto keep up with the writing of a text-heavy CRPG. I'm not trying to slight Avowed here, but, in large part due to their genre differences, it's undeniable that Pillars features significantly more engaging writing.

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Where Avowed's companions left something to be desired, Pillars has the best in the business. Frankly, I could easily recommend a playthrough of Pillars solely because of its companions. As such, the idea that more players may experience Pillars with the far more approachable turn-based combat is genuinely exciting. It's a game that deserves to be experienced, and the fewer barriers to entry for that experience is a success in my book. BG3 has proven that the age-old genre can not just survive, but with accessibility in mind, truly thrive.

For fans who played Avowed through Xbox Game Pass, both Pillars of Eternity games are also available on the service.

Larian has found massive success in its chosen system, and while I don't want CRPGs to abandon the combat that made them what they are, the genre holds more than its combat. Like Pillars, BG3 has excellent writing and storytelling that can be experienced in such a widespread fashion due to the ease of the 5e system and turn-based combat. Pillars of Eternity, the game that arguably revived the genre, deserves its own widespread success too, and I'm happy that, a decade later, it may have its time to shine even brighter.

Source: Obsidian Entertainment