Baldur’s Gate 3’s photo mode and cross-play are available now: Larian Studios released both with Patch 8 on April 15, 2025. Players on PC, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 can join multiplayer sessions through the Larian Network, while photo mode adds camera, pose, and image-editing tools for capturing scenes.
What happened to the 2025 release plan?
Larian announced in Community Update #30 in November 2024 that Patch 8 was planned for the following year, including cross-play, photo mode, and 12 new subclasses. Patch 8 launched on April 15, 2025, bringing the two features to the game. Larian’s November 2024 announcement and its Patch 8 release post document the plan and launch.
Does Baldur’s Gate 3 have cross-play?
Yes. Larian lists PC, Mac, Xbox, and PlayStation 5 as supported platforms for multiplayer cross-play and cross-platform progression. Players connect through Larian Network accounts and cross-play lobbies. To play together, each person needs a linked platform account, cross-play enabled in the game, and access to the host’s lobby.
Enable cross-play and join a friend
- Link accounts: Link your platform account to your Larian account.
- Allow cross-play: In the game, go to Options → Gameplay and enable Allow Cross-Play.
- Set up an existing campaign: Open Load Game, select the save, and enable its cross-play checkbox before loading.
- Create or join a session: For a new session, choose Multiplayer → Cross-Play → Create. To join a friend, open Multiplayer → Cross-Play and select their lobby.
Larian added setup details in Community Update #34 and Hotfix #32, published May 20, 2025. Hotfix #32 is identified as game version 4.1.1.6848561.
#1 Best Overall
- Online multiplayer for up to four players - allows you to combine your forces in combat, and split your party to follow your own quests and agendas. Concoct the perfect plan together… or introduce an element of chaos when your friends least expect it
- Origin Character - offer a hand-crafted experience, each with their own unique traits, agenda, and outlook on the world. Their stories intersect with the entire narrative, and your choices will determine whether those stories end in redemption, salvation, domination, or many other outcomes
- Evolved turn-based combat - based on the D&D 5e ruleset. Team-based initiative, advantage & disadvantage, and roll modifiers join combat cameras, expanded environmental interactions, and a new fluidity in combat that rewards strategy and foresight
- Define the future of the Forgotten Realms - through your choices, and the roll of the dice. No matter who you play, or what you roll, the world and its inhabitants will react to your story
- Player-initiated turn-based mode - allows you to pause the world around you at any time even outside of combat. Whether you see an opportunity for a tactical advantage before combat begins, want to pull off a heist with pin-point precision, or need to escape a fiendish trap. Split your party, prepare ambushes, sneak in the darkness -- create your own luck!
Check mods before joining
- Everyone in a modded lobby needs the same mod versions.
- For a group that includes console or Mac players, PC hosts should choose mods tagged Available on Console & Mac.
- Larian says console modding is limited to 100 mods; third-party mods cannot be used on consoles. A save shared with console or Mac players should stay within that limit and use mods marked as available for those platforms.
How do you use photo mode?
Open photo mode during exploration or combat by pressing both analog sticks on console, pressing F9 on PC, or selecting the photo-mode icon on the minimap HUD. You can reposition and pose party members, adjust facial expressions, and change camera, lens, and scene settings. The mode also includes post-processing effects, colour grading, frames, and stickers; Larian said more than 300 stickers were included at Patch 8 launch. Modders can create and upload additional stickers through the BG3 Toolkit.
What photo mode cannot change in dialogue scenes
During dialogue and cinematic scenes, you cannot reposition the party or change the camera angle. You can still apply post-processing effects, frames, and stickers.
Rank #2
- Reactive Turn-based Combat: Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and &character synergies
- Dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system
- With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, & fellow Expeditioners as they embark on a desperate quest to break Paintress’ cycle of death
- Explore an enchanting realm populated by adversaries; Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield
- Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack
Where screenshots are saved
- Xbox and PlayStation 5: The platform’s media gallery.
- Windows PC:
C:Users[username]DocumentsLarian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3Screenshots - Mac:
~/Pictures/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/Screenshots
Does “final patch” mean no more updates?
No. Larian described Patch 8 as the last game patch to introduce new content, saying it would not add further narrative content or significant changes to storylines, Origin characters, or companions. The studio’s wording does not rule out bug fixes or platform-support updates: for example, its May 2025 Hotfix #32 post documents fixes after Patch 8. In August 2026, Windows Central also reported that Baldur’s Gate 3 had become an Xbox Play Anywhere title and that an update would be issued across platforms to support cross-play. That platform note is secondary reporting, rather than Larian’s Patch 8 feature documentation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![NAMCO - CD Projekt Red - The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt - Complete Edition, Playstation 5 [English Edition]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dWUfwFl5L._SL160_.jpg)
- 1205504
- High-quality material
- Durable
- robustness
Rank #4
- Day 1 Edition includes the Base Game Disc, Steelbook, and World Map.
- Make The Story Your Own - Experience and shape the plot the way you want. Embark on the quest to save your family, or swear revenge on your sire and destroy everyone standing in your way. Discover ancient secrets lurking in the valley. Rush in head first or risk taking time to prepare. Go alone or search for friends and forge unlikely alliances.
- Day And Night - Experience two different gameplay loops, offering distinct abilities to choose from, mysteries to uncover, and varying ways to achieve your goals. Experiment with different approaches and discover how the world reacts to your actions.
- Every Action Matters - Every action - and inaction - shapes the world around you. Your family’s days are numbered, and every time you take on a quest, time moves forward, compelling you closer to the end. Choose carefully whom to help and whom to leave behind. You will not have time for everyone. The world waits for no one. And neither does the villain.
Rank #3
- Exclusive Deluxe Edition Content: Includes a physical copy of Baldur's Gate 3 for PS5, along with bonus digital and physical items such as a soundtrack, art book, map, and exclusive in-game items like skins, weapons, or cosmetics.
- Big Box Packaging: Comes in a premium, collector's edition box with unique artwork, making it a standout addition to any gaming collection.
- Enhanced for PS5: Fully optimized for PlayStation 5, featuring faster load times, stunning 4K visuals, and immersive DualSense controller integration for haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
- EU Region Version: Specifically designed for the European market, ensuring compatibility with PS5 consoles in the EU region. Includes multi-language support for a wider audience.
- Collector's Item: A must-have for fans of the Baldur's Gate series or RPG enthusiasts, offering both gameplay and collectible value with its high-quality physical and digital extras.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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