entertainment / Thursday, 28-Aug-2025

Final Baldur’s Gate 3 Content Patch Ends Historic Run With Biggest Update Yet, Adding 12 New Subclasses

Patch 8, the final content update for Baldur's Gate 3, has arrived, ending an era of unprecedented support for a primarily single-player CRPG. Developer Larian Studios has saved the best for last, though, as Patch 8 is the biggest update yet, bringing 12 brand-new subclasses to the game – one for each class.

The full patch notes can be found on the Baldur's Gate 3 website, which begin with an emotional intro from the developers about the game's historic journey through early access to release and the year-and-a-half-plus of post-launch support. Alongside Patch 8's 12 new subclasses, it brings cross-play for all platforms, photo mode, modding toolkit updates, split-screen support for the Xbox Series S, and a wide variety of smaller fixes.

Patch 8 is now live on PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox! 🎮 Cross-Play 🆕 12 Subclasses 📷 Photo Mode 👥 Xbox Series S Split Screen 🛠️ Modding Toolkit Update 🐛 Bug Fixes & Improvements Read the full patch notes for our final major patch: larian.club/Patch8 — Larian Studios (@larianstudios.com)2025-04-15T13:17:47.384Z

12 New Subclasses Headline BG3's Final Patch 20 Months After Release

One Last Gift From Larian

From the early introduction of the Magic Mirror to the release of the official modding toolkit, Baldur's Gate 3 has seen incredible post-launch support, but none as robust as Patch 8's 12 new subclasses. Every playable class in BG3 now has a new method of playing the game, each being one from Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition and its supplemental source books that had not previously been adapted. Here's the full list of new subclasses in Patch 8:

  • Path of the Giant barbarian
  • College of Glamour bard
  • Death Domain cleric
  • Circle of Stars druid
  • Arcane Archer fighter
  • Way of the Drunken Master monk
  • Oath of the Crown paladin
  • Swarmkeeper ranger
  • Swashbuckler rogue
  • Shadow Magic sorcerer
  • Hexblade warlock
  • Bladesinging wizard

These 12 subclasses bring a triumphant conclusion to roughly 20 months of support following BG3's original PC release in August 2023. Counting its lengthy early access period prior, though, Baldur's Gate 3 has been a long and tremendous undertaking for Larian. While more bug fixes are likely to come with future updates, Patch 8 is "the last game patch to introduce new content" according to the patch notes; Larian "won’t be adding any new narrative content or significant changes to storylines, Origin characters, or companions."

Our Take: Patch 8 Brings About The End Of An Era

BG3 Is One For The History Books

All companions from Baldur's Gate 3Custom Image by Katarina Cimbaljevic

Patch 8 is exciting in its own right, and a huge motivator to play Baldur's Gate 3 yet again, but I can't help but feel a bit melancholic here at the end of bespoke content updates. Larian has already focused on its new title, but this being the official, final update is bittersweet. 20 months of regular free content updates is more than you should expect from any RPG, let alone the smash hit that was sprawling and deep even before all of its post-launch additions.

Baldur's Gate 3 is arguably among the best games of all time – setting an incredibly high bar for CRPGs specifically – and that's unlikely to change once the dust settles on Patch 8. Adding 12 new subclasses is a major injection of new content that can revitalize the game in practically every facet, even if it's not a whole new challenge like Honour Mode. Photo mode and cross-play will ensure Baldur's Gate 3 ages gracefully and keeps its most dedicated fans engaged, even after its historic run of awards and updates.

Sources: Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios/Bluesky

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Your Rating

Baldur's Gate 3
Systems
Placeholder ImageOpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Avg:96/100Critics Rec:98%
Released
August 3, 2023
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Publisher(s)
Larian Studios
Engine
Divinity 4.0
Multiplayer
Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Full cross-platform play.

Developed and published by Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing game set to release in August of 2023. Players will create a character to embark on a large-scale journey and can do so solo or cooperatively with a friend. Combat is a turn-based style this time around.

Franchise
Baldur's Gate
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
Vertical Only
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
Local Co-Op Support
1-2 Players
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

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