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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Yes—Pillars of Eternity now has Turn-Based Mode, but it is no longer a beta feature. Obsidian released it on April 6, 2026, for Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and the Xbox PC App. You can choose it at the start of a game or switch between it and Real-Time with Pause during a playthrough.
What changed, and when?
Obsidian first opened the mode as a public beta on November 5, 2025, for the original Pillars of Eternity on Steam and Xbox PC. Players could opt in on Steam through the public_beta branch. Obsidian cautioned that the beta could contain bugs and said it would update the feature incrementally. Read the beta announcement.
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That beta framing is now outdated. Obsidian announced the mode as live on April 6, 2026, on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Xbox PC App. The release announcement also confirmed that players can change combat modes during a playthrough. Read the release announcement.
How Turn-Based Mode works
Turn-Based Mode organizes combat into turns, with character speed influencing when characters act. Obsidian says combat pacing was adjusted for increased lethality. Some actions—such as swapping weapons, drinking potions, or enabling modals—are treated as free actions, but have per-turn limits. These rules make the mode distinct from the game’s traditional Real-Time with Pause combat; they do not mean every action is unrestricted.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
You can select Turn-Based Mode when starting a game or change between it and Real-Time with Pause in the options during a playthrough. The game warns against switching while an encounter is underway, as noted in the later patch updates.
What the later patches fixed
Obsidian continued updating the feature after release. Patch 3.9.4.0, released May 20, 2026, addressed several turn-based issues: prone status now adds a three-initiative delay, pulsing area effects and ticking traps behave correctly, and the patch fixed several causes of combat locking. See the 3.9.4.0 notes.
Rank #2
- 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
- Captain your ship across the seas - as your stronghold on the seas, your ship is much more than simply a vessel for exploring
The latest official live patch located for this article is 3.9.5.0, dated July 6, 2026. Its notes include a higher minimum initiative for Adragan actions, fixes to abilities and effects, a corrected Twin Stones area preview, interface messaging changes, and a warning when players try to switch modes during an encounter. These are examples from the notes, not a complete account of every change. See the 3.9.5.0 notes.
The patch history shows ongoing fixes, not a guarantee that every issue has been eliminated. In its release announcement, Obsidian said it would continue supporting the feature based on feedback.
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- Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire ist der Nachfolger eines der bestbewerteten Rollenspiele dieser Dekade
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Turn-Based Mode or Real-Time with Pause?
| Mode | How combat is paced | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Turn-Based Mode | Combat proceeds in turns, with character speed affecting initiative. | Some actions are free but limited per turn. Later patches addressed initiative, effects, traps, interface behavior, and other issues. |
| Real-Time with Pause | The game’s traditional combat mode. | You can switch to it from Turn-Based Mode during a playthrough, or switch the other way, subject to the encounter warning. |
Neither mode is presented by Obsidian as universally better. The choice is about pacing and how you want to control combat, and the ability to change modes lets you try both without committing for the entire playthrough.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where can you play it?
Obsidian lists Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and the Xbox PC App for the released mode. Availability named in that announcement is for PC; it does not establish availability on console versions.
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
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.
