Pillars of Eternity’s turn-based combat beta opened on November 5, 2025, but the mode is no longer in beta. Obsidian released it fully on PC on April 6, 2026, for Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and the Xbox PC App. Players can choose it for a new game or switch between it and Real-Time with Pause during a playthrough.
When did the Pillars of Eternity turn-based beta start?
Obsidian announced the public beta on November 3, 2025, and opened it on November 5 for the original Pillars of Eternity on Steam and Xbox PC. The announcement described the beta as an evolving feature and warned that players could encounter bugs while the studio made incremental updates. Obsidian’s beta announcement and launch post document that initial release.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition - Xbox One | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Xbox One | $9.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Pillars of Eternity (PS4) | $36.22 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Pillars of Eternity: Prima Official Game Guide | $92.70 | Buy on Amazon |
Is turn-based combat available now, and on which platforms?
Yes. Obsidian announced the full release on April 6, 2026, for Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and the Xbox PC App. “Xbox PC App” refers to the PC app; the announcement does not establish availability on Xbox consoles. The mode is an update to the original game, not a separate beta product. Obsidian’s full-release announcement confirms the storefronts and says players can switch modes during a playthrough.
How does Turn-Based Mode change combat?
Instead of the original Real-Time with Pause flow, combat proceeds in turns, with character speed influencing turn order. The beta design also let players make certain actions without spending a turn, subject to a per-turn limit of one action of each type.
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- Award-winning writing, story and artwork of Pillars of Eternity, and The White March: Parts I & II.
- Countless character creation options, from races and classes, to character backgrounds, which drive your personal story.
- An epic universe to explore, filled with intriguing party members and companions, a variety of in-game factions, and a lovingly rendered world to traverse.
- New UI and controls designed from the ground up, presenting the Pillars of Eternity experience like never before!
- Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition includes all previously released additional content from the PC version, including all DLC and expansions in a single package.and controls.
- Speed shapes turns: a character’s overall speed influences when they act.
- Some actions are limited free actions: swapping weapons, using a potion and enabling a modal ability were each described as free actions, limited to one per turn per type.
- Combat is more lethal: Obsidian said the beta adjustments increased lethality for both enemies and player characters.
These are the mechanics described in the beta announcement; the later full-release notice confirms the mode’s release but does not restate every rule. The two modes offer different pacing, not a documented objective ranking of which is easier, faster or better.
How do you start or switch to Turn-Based Mode?
- For a new game: choose Turn-Based Mode when starting. The beta announcement documented this option.
- For an existing playthrough: open the game options and switch between Turn-Based Mode and Real-Time with Pause. Obsidian reaffirmed that in-game switching is supported in its full-release announcement.
The mode is available as part of the original game update; the beta was not a separate product to buy.
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- Immerse yourself in a deeper single player RPG game experience
- Discover the new region of the Dead Fire - plot your own course by ship and explore the rich and exotic islands of the archipelago region
- Build your party and customize your companions - choose from 7 different companions to join you on your quest and assign multiple classes and deeper abilities for each
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What did later patches fix?
Obsidian continued publishing turn-based-specific fixes after the full release. Its May 20, 2026, Patch 3.9.4.0 notice listed changes involving initiative, area effects, combat locks, traps and interface behavior; that notice named Steam, GOG and Xbox PC. Read the 3.9.4.0 notice.
The July 6, 2026, Patch 3.9.5.0 announcement listed fixes concerning initiative, spells, abilities, encounters, combat-log messages and interface warnings, and named Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store and Xbox PC. Read the 3.9.5.0 notice. These patch notes show ongoing maintenance, but do not establish that every bug has been resolved. They are the latest patch notices cited here, not a claim about the newest patch available now.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Award-winning writing, story and artwork of Pillars of Eternity
- The White March Parts I & II
- Countless character creation options, from races and classes to character backgrounds
- An epic universe to explore, filled with intriguing party members and companions
- A variety of in-game factions, and a lovingly rendered world to traverse
Rank #3
- Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire ist der Nachfolger eines der bestbewerteten Rollenspiele dieser Dekade
- Umfangreiches und spannendes Classic-Rollenspiel mit technisch aktuellster Präsentation
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- Inkl. das Spiel "Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire" sowie Beast of Winter DLC, The Forgotten Sanctum DLC und Seeker, Slayer, Survivor DLC
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