Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate
Subseries of Dungeons & Dragons
Baldur's Gate	1998
Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn	2000
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition	2012
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition	2013
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance	2021
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II	2022
Baldur's Gate 3	2023

Baldur's Gate 3 is a singleplayer and multiplayer bird's-eye view RPG game in the Baldur's Gate series.

The game was released in early access on October 6, 2020, with the full release being planned for August 31, 2023. In a community update published in late June 2023, it was announced that the Windows release of the game had been moved up four weeks, with a full release scheduled for August 3, 2023, instead.^[1]

General information

Official forums

Developer Discord server

GOG.com Community Discussions

GOG.com Support Page

Steam Community Discussions

Unofficial wiki

Fextralife wiki

Availability

Source	DRM	Notes	Keys	OS
Retail		Collector's Edition.
GOG.com
Steam

Monetization

Type	Notes
One-time game purchase	The game requires an upfront purchase to access.

Type	Notes
Cosmetic	Several skins and items are part of the Digital Deluxe Edition upgrade.

DLC and expansion packs

Name	Notes
Digital Deluxe Upgrade	Extra skins and items, digital soundtrack and artbook. Given for free to players who bought the game during the Early Access period and owners of the Collector's Edition.

Essential improvements

Skip Larian launcher on startup

Use the `--skip-launcher` command line argument.
Steam achievements and cloud saves still work. Uses DirectX 11 rendering by default.^[2] For Vulkan, add the `--vulkan` command line argument.

Run `bin\bg3.exe` (Vulkan rendering) or `bin\bg3_dx11.exe` (DirectX 11 rendering) instead of the default `Launcher\LariLauncher.exe` called by Steam/Galaxy.^[3]
Currently unknown if this breaks achievements and cloud saves.

Skip logo video

Instructions
Download the blank file `Splash_Logo_Larian.bk2`. Copy the file to `<path-to-game>\Data\Video\` (Create `Video` if it does not exist).

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System	Location
Windows	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\
Steam	<Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\1086940\remote\_PROFILE_Public
macOS (OS X)	$HOME/Documents/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1086940/pfx/^{[Note 1]}

Save game data location

System	Location
Windows	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Larian Studios\Baldur's Gate 3\PlayerProfiles\Public\Savegames\Story
Steam	<Steam-folder>\userdata\<user-id>\1086940\remote\_SAVE_Public\Savegames
macOS (OS X)	$HOME/Documents/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/PlayerProfiles/Public/Savegames/Story
Steam Play (Linux)	<Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1086940/pfx/^{[Note 1]}

Save game cloud syncing

System	Native	Notes
GOG Galaxy		Must opt-in within Options Menu.
Steam Cloud		^[4]

The game also supports cross-saving between Steam, GOG.com and PlayStation 5 versions, affecting the 5 latest savegame files. This feature requires a Larian account.^[5]

Video

Video settings

Graphics feature	State	Notes
Widescreen resolution
Multi-monitor
Ultra-widescreen		Hor+ scaling.^[6]
4K Ultra HD		^[7]
Field of view (FOV)
Windowed
Borderless fullscreen windowed
Anisotropic filtering (AF)		Up to 16x.
Anti-aliasing (AA)		FXAA, SMAA, TAA and DLAA.
High-fidelity upscaling		DLSS 2.4, FSR 1.0, FSR 2.2 FSR 2.2 quietly added in Patch 4 (v4.1.1.3882084).^[8]^[9]
Vertical sync (Vsync)		Double and triple buffering selectable.
60 FPS and 120+ FPS		Framerate cap can be manually configured (10-240 FPS) or entirely disabled.
High dynamic range display (HDR)		As of the full game release, Vulkan version also supports HDR.^[10]^[11] Automatically enables when support is detected and cannot be disabled manually.^[12] It is possible to verify the game is using HDR when the Gamma Correction option is replaced with HDR Calibration in video settings.
Ray tracing (RT)
Color blind mode		Settings for protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia added in Patch 4 (v4.1.1.3882084).^[13]

Interface settings
Accessibility settings

Input

Keyboard and mouse	State	Notes
Remapping
Mouse acceleration
Mouse sensitivity
Mouse input in menus
Mouse Y-axis inversion
Controller
Controller support		^[14]
Full controller support
Controller remapping		Only a default control set is available (see image below).
Controller sensitivity
Controller Y-axis inversion

Controller types

XInput-compatible controllers
Xbox button prompts
Impulse Trigger vibration

DualShock 4 controllers
DualShock button prompts
Light bar support
Connection modes	unknown

Generic/other controllers		Native Switch Pro support, as well as other controllers supported by SDL2
Button prompts		Option to select button prompt style was added in Patch 1^[15]

Additional information
Controller hotplugging		Separate controller UI takes a second to switch
Haptic feedback
Simultaneous controller+KB/M		Default option ("Automatic" under Input Mode).

Key bindings
Xbox controller bindings
PlayStation controller bindings
Switch Pro controller bindings

Audio

Audio settings

Gameplay settings

Audio feature	State	Notes
Separate volume controls
Surround sound		^[16]
Subtitles		^[4]
Closed captions		^[4]
Mute on focus lost
Royalty free audio

Localizations

Language	UI	Audio	Sub	Notes
English
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
French
German
Italian
Japanese				Scheduled to arrive on December 21, 2023.^[17]
Polish
Brazilian Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Latin American Spanish
Turkish
Ukrainian

Network

Multiplayer types

Type	Players	Notes
Local play	2	Co-op ^[4]
LAN play	4	Co-op
Online play	4	Co-op Also supports cross-platform multiplayer.^[4]

Connection types

Type	Native	Notes
Matchmaking
Peer-to-peer
Dedicated
Self-hosting
Direct IP		Instead of IP addresses, the game uses its own connection ID system.

Ports

Protocol	Port(s) and/or port range(s)
UDP	23243-23262^[18]

This game supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic port configuration.

VR support

3D modes	State	Notes
vorpX		Official Z3D profile, see vorpx forum for introduction.

Networking issues

The official Larian documentation^[18] suggests the following solutions to networking issues.

General problems

Ensure that all players have the exact same versions of the game and any potential unofficial mods.

Switch the player hosting the session; transfer the appropriate save game file to the new host to maintain progress.

Verify/repair game installation.

Check if the connection can be established if the host moves to character creation instead of waiting for players to join the lobby.

Enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) in the network adapter if it is disabled, or reset the network adapter.

Joining-specific problems

This includes the NATPunch (66) error message when trying to join a room.

Host a multiplayer room, and then immediately close it. Then, attempt to rejoin the other player's room as normal.^[19]

Issues unresolved

Non-QWERTY keyboards not having adapted prompts

If the player uses a keyboard such as QWERTZ or AZERTY, the UI will not change the key prompts (e.g. the Jump command is still shown as using the Z key, but is actually handled by the Y key on a QWERTZ keyboard).^[20]^[21]

Other information

API

Technical specs	Supported	Notes
Direct3D	11
Metal support
Vulkan	1.1

Executable	32-bit	64-bit	ARM	Notes
Windows
macOS (OS X)

Middleware

	Middleware	Notes
Audio	Wwise
Interface	Noesis
Input	SDL2
Cutscenes	Bink 2 Video
Multiplayer	RakNet

System requirements

Windows
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	10	10
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i5-4690 AMD FX-8350	Intel Core i7-8700K AMD Ryzen 5 3600
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	150 GB
Video card (GPU)	Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 AMD Radeon RX 480 4 GB of VRAM DirectX 11 compatible	Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8 GB of VRAM

A solid-state drive is required.

A 64-bit operating system is required.

macOS (OS X)
	Minimum	Recommended
Operating system (OS)	10.15.6	10.15.7
Processor (CPU)	Intel Core i7 2.6 GHz Quad Core	Intel Core i9 2.3 GHz 8-Core
System memory (RAM)	8 GB	16 GB
Hard disk drive (HDD)	150 GB
Video card (GPU)	AMD Radeon RX 460 4 GB of VRAM	AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 8 GB of VRAM

A solid-state drive is recommended.

A 64-bit operating system is required.

Notes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/1086940/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (1086940) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

References

↑ Steam - Baldur's Gate 3 - Community Update #20: A Dragonborn, a Half-Orc & a Monk Walk Into a Tavern - last accessed on 2023-08-04
↑ Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2023-08-08
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2023-08-06
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 Steam - Baldur's Gate III - last accessed on 2019-06-06
↑ Larian Account Information - Support - Larian Studios - last accessed on 2023-09-06
↑ Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-08
Screenshots taken at 2560x1080 (native), 3840x1080, 5760x1080, 1920x1080 and compared.
↑ Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-08
Applying a custom 3840x2160 resolution in the settings resulted in a significant decrease in FPS.
↑ Baldur's Gate 3 patch 4 brings AMD FSR 2.2, looking better on Steam Deck | GamingOnLinux - last accessed on 2023-11-02
↑ Cromwelp on X - last accessed on 2023-11-02
"Very AFK on X: "Patch 4 also includes FSR 2.2, which improves image quality on Steam Deck! Eager to try it myself.""
↑ r/BaldursGate3 - HDR settings - dx11 vs Vulkan - last accessed on 2023-08-12
↑ Steam Community Discussion - Bug: Too dark UI and screen with HDR on Vulkan on Release - last accessed on 2023-08-12
↑ Verified by User:13xforever on 2023-08-12
↑ Patch #4 Now Live! - Baldur's Gate 3 - last accessed on 2023-11-02
↑ [missing title] - last accessed on 2023-08-04
↑ Patch #1 changelog - last accessed on 2023-08-25
↑ Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-09
Tested on a 5.1 sound system and used Orban Loudness Meter to confirm the use of the rear speakers.
↑ Larian Studios on X: "Japanese localization is coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, alongside the PlayStation version in Japan, December 21st!" / X - last accessed on 2023-10-03
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 Support - Larian Studios - Baldur's Gate 3 - Multiplayer Issues - last accessed on 2023-08-07
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2023-08-07
Tested in GOG.com version; the hosting function seems to refresh NAT when the joining one does not.
↑ AZERTY :: Baldur's Gate 3 General Discussions - last accessed on 2023-09-03
↑ Verified by User:Plok on 2023-09-03
Observed in full release and post-launch patches, running on a QWERTZ (Croatian layout) keyboard.

[Proton_path_note-4] 1.0 ^1.1 File/folder structure within this directory reflects the path(s) listed for Windows and/or Steam game data (use Wine regedit to access Windows registry paths). Games with Steam Cloud support may store data in ~/.steam/steam/userdata/<user-id>/1086940/ in addition to or instead of this directory. The app ID (1086940) may differ in some cases. Treat backslashes as forward slashes. See the glossary page for details.

[1] Steam - Baldur's Gate 3 - Community Update #20: A Dragonborn, a Half-Orc & a Monk Walk Into a Tavern - last accessed on 2023-08-04

[2] Verified by User:Baronsmoki on 2023-08-08

[3] Verified by User:Plok on 2023-08-06

[Steam-Store-Page-2019-06-06-5] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 Steam - Baldur's Gate III - last accessed on 2019-06-06

[6] Larian Account Information - Support - Larian Studios - last accessed on 2023-09-06

[7] Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-08
Screenshots taken at 2560x1080 (native), 3840x1080, 5760x1080, 1920x1080 and compared.

[8] Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-08
Applying a custom 3840x2160 resolution in the settings resulted in a significant decrease in FPS.

[9] Baldur's Gate 3 patch 4 brings AMD FSR 2.2, looking better on Steam Deck | GamingOnLinux - last accessed on 2023-11-02

[10] Cromwelp on X - last accessed on 2023-11-02
"Very AFK on X: "Patch 4 also includes FSR 2.2, which improves image quality on Steam Deck! Eager to try it myself.""

[11] r/BaldursGate3 - HDR settings - dx11 vs Vulkan - last accessed on 2023-08-12

[12] Steam Community Discussion - Bug: Too dark UI and screen with HDR on Vulkan on Release - last accessed on 2023-08-12

[13] Verified by User:13xforever on 2023-08-12

[BG3Patch4-14] Patch #4 Now Live! - Baldur's Gate 3 - last accessed on 2023-11-02

[15] [missing title] - last accessed on 2023-08-04

[16] Patch #1 changelog - last accessed on 2023-08-25

[17] Verified by User:Rose on 2020-10-09
Tested on a 5.1 sound system and used Orban Loudness Meter to confirm the use of the rear speakers.

[18] Larian Studios on X: "Japanese localization is coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 on PC, alongside the PlayStation version in Japan, December 21st!" / X - last accessed on 2023-10-03

[BG3LarianSupport-19] 18.0 ^18.1 Support - Larian Studios - Baldur's Gate 3 - Multiplayer Issues - last accessed on 2023-08-07

[20] Verified by User:Plok on 2023-08-07
Tested in GOG.com version; the hosting function seems to refresh NAT when the joining one does not.

[21] AZERTY :: Baldur's Gate 3 General Discussions - last accessed on 2023-09-03

[22] Verified by User:Plok on 2023-09-03
Observed in full release and post-launch patches, running on a QWERTZ (Croatian layout) keyboard.

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Developers

	Larian Studios
Engines
	Divinity Engine 4.0
Release dates
Windows	August 3, 2023
macOS (OS X)	September 22, 2023
Reception
Metacritic	96
OpenCritic	96
IGDB	93
Taxonomy
Monetization	One-time game purchase
Microtransactions	Cosmetic
Modes	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Pacing	Turn-based
Perspectives	Bird's-eye view
Controls	Multiple select, Point and select
Genres	RPG
Themes	Fantasy
Series	Baldur's Gate