Summary
- Baldur's Gate 3 PC players have been given an option to stay on Update 6, or downgrade the game from Update 7.
- Either of these things can be accomplished by switching to the newly launched Baldur's Gate 3 Update 6 Steam beta branch.
- Larian said this option was offered in order to provide mod creators with more time to update their add-ons, most of which have been broken by Update 7, which introduced the game's official modding tools.
Baldur's Gate 3 has introduced a way for PC players to stay on Update 6. This option, which is being offered as part of a newly launched alternative development branch of Baldur's Gate 3, can also be used to revert Update 7 by those who have already installed it.
Baldur's Gate 3 Update 7 launched on Thursday, September 5. This latest version of the game is so far only available to Steam users.
Baldur's Gate 3 Launches Patch 6 Beta Branch on Steam
And while the work on the patch's console ports continues, Larian has now offered a way for PC gamers to stay on Baldur's Gate 3 Update 6, its prior major release that debuted back in mid-February 2024. The developer introduced this option in the form of a new Steam beta branch. Switching to this build is as simple as right-clicking Baldur's Gate 3 in one's Steam library and selecting "Properties" from the context menu. From there, the user needs to navigate to the "Betas" tab on the following screen and select "release_patch6_hf9" under the "Beta Participation" dropdown menu.
Baldur's Gate 3 Update 6 Beta Branch Caters to Mod Users
Due to the way Steam development branches work, this newly launched option isn't merely a way to stay on Update 6, but can also be used by those who have already installed Update 7 to downgrade it. Larian said that the decision to offer a way for players to avoid the latest game version for the time being was made in order to allow them to keep using their Baldur's Gate 3 mods. Seeing how Update 7 introduces official modding tools, essentially all but the simplest community-made add-ons will need to be updated to work with this version of the critically acclaimed RPG.
Modding tools have been among the most highly requested Baldur's Gate 3 features ever since Larian's latest game debuted in early August 2023. And while their long-awaited arrival might signal that the developer's efforts to keep supporting its RPG are nearing their end, Update 7 won't be the game's final patch. That's according to Larian Head of Publishing Michael Douse, who said as much in a recent tweet.
Exactly how many more Baldur's Gate 3 patches are in the works is currently unclear. In the meantime, a recent update to Larian's website has revealed that the studio is aiming to bring Update 7 to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game sometime in October 2024.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- 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.
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.
THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCE
Choose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.
A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPIC
Forged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian's next-generation RPG engine.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
