In the ever-evolving realm of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios is gearing up to launch its next major patch, promising a slew of improvements and fixes. According to Michael Douse, the director of publishing at Larian Studios, the patch is scheduled to make its debut this week.
The previous update, Patch 4, addressed various aspects of the game, including the integration of colourblind filters, rectifying storyline inconsistencies, and fine-tuning intimate moments, leading to endearing head-bumps with Karlach. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, as some players encountered a significant hiccup in the form of a game-breaking bug that caused substantial slowdowns in Act 3.
Players took to the game’s subreddit to voice their concerns, outlining issues such as companions failing to follow the protagonist (Tav), NPCs engaging in peculiar behavior like walking in place or disappearing entirely, and an inability to interact with the game world. One frustrated player lamented, “[I] cannot save, and cannot reload.”
The severity of the problem prompted users on the official Larian forums to label the game as “profoundly broken,” with a notable concentration of reports coming from PS5 users. As it turns out, the root cause of these issues stems from an intended fix implemented in Patch 4, as explained by a statement from community manager Salo.
The fix in question was designed to address a specific issue related to the Scrying Eyes in Moonrise Towers, preventing them from triggering alarms when players engaged in stealthy activities such as stealing while sneaking or invisible. While a commendable fix on its own, it inadvertently triggered a cascade of problems elsewhere in the game.
The unintended consequence of the fix resulted in unnoticed thefts and acts of vandalism becoming perpetually stuck in the game’s ‘did anyone see me’ pipeline, instead of timing out and progressing as intended. Salo clarified, “Essentially, your ‘DM’—in a real-world sense—constantly thinks about the acts of theft & violence the player keeps doing, without ever moving on or verbalising them. Mulling on it ad infinitum.”
In essence, the issue lies not with Act 3 itself but with the game’s crime system. Players who engaged in a significant amount of thievery found themselves inadvertently overwhelming the system, leading to increasing slowdowns as the game struggled to keep track of every illicit act committed.
However, there’s good news on the horizon. Larian Studios has identified the root cause of the problem and assures players that a fix will be implemented before the week concludes. This means that players can once again embark on their adventures through the Sword Coast, indulging in pickpocketing, stealing, and cheating without fear of their digital Dungeon Master succumbing to the virtual equivalent of a bluescreen.
As the patch inches closer to release, Baldur’s Gate 3 enthusiasts can look forward to a smoother and more immersive gaming experience. With Larian Studios demonstrating a commitment to addressing player concerns promptly, the future looks bright for adventurers navigating the intricate landscapes of this captivating RPG.
