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Baldur’s Gate Crossplay: Is It Available, and What You Need to Know
If you’re a fan of rich storytelling, complex characters, and strategic turn-based combat, then Baldur’s Gate 3 likely has a place on your gaming radar. This award-winning RPG from Larian Studios has captured the hearts of many players across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. But as more friends get hooked on the adventure, one pressing question keeps popping up: Does Baldur’s Gate support crossplay?
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into what crossplay means for Baldur’s Gate 3, where it stands right now, and what the future holds for multiplayer features. Whether you’re planning a co-op campaign or just curious about your options, we’ve got you covered.
What Is Crossplay?
Before jumping into the specifics of Baldur’s Gate, it’s helpful to clarify what crossplay means.
Crossplay, also known as cross-platform play, refers to the ability for players using different gaming platforms—such as PC, Xbox, and PlayStation—to play together in the same multiplayer game.
For instance, if you’re on a PlayStation 5 and your friend owns the game on PC, crossplay would allow both of you to join the same session and adventure together without any extra effort.
Crossplay is especially important in cooperative RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3, where building a party and experiencing the story together is a key part of the experience.
Baldur’s Gate Crossplay: The Current Situation
As of now, Baldur’s Gate 3 does not support crossplay between platforms like PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. This means:
- A PlayStation player cannot join a game hosted on Xbox or PC.
- Xbox and PC players also cannot play together—yet.
- Players are limited to multiplayer within the same platform.
This has been a source of frustration for many fans, especially in a game where forming a diverse party of characters is central to the experience.
However, there’s good news on the horizon.
Cross-Save vs. Crossplay: What’s the Difference?
There’s often confusion between crossplay and cross-save, and Baldur’s Gate 3 does offer cross-save functionality.
With cross-save, your game progress is stored in the cloud, allowing you to pick up where you left off on another platform. For example:
- You can start your campaign on PC.
- Later, you can continue the same game on PlayStation 5 or Xbox (as long as cross-save is enabled and you’re logged into the same Larian account).
This is a huge plus for players who own the game on multiple platforms or who switch systems often. But again, this doesn’t mean you can play co-op across those platforms—that’s where crossplay would come in.
Is Crossplay Coming to Baldur’s Gate 3?
Yes! The developers at Larian Studios have confirmed that crossplay is in development. In an interview following the game’s full release, the studio said that crossplay support is “definitely on the roadmap.”
However, they did not give a specific release date.
Why the Delay?
Developing crossplay support isn’t as simple as flipping a switch. It involves:
- Syncing multiplayer infrastructure across different platforms
- Ensuring platform compliance (especially from Sony and Microsoft)
- Maintaining save data compatibility
- Fixing potential balancing or performance issues across hardware
Larian Studios is known for its attention to detail, so they’re likely taking the time to ensure the feature works smoothly before launching it.
What Platforms Will Be Supported?
When crossplay is eventually released for Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s expected to support the following platforms:
- PC (Steam and GOG)
- MacOS
- Xbox Series X|S
- PlayStation 5
The idea is to unify the player base as much as possible, though implementation may be phased or platform-specific depending on technical constraints.
What About Baldur’s Gate 3 on Nintendo Switch?
As of now, Baldur’s Gate 3 is not available on the Nintendo Switch, and there has been no official announcement regarding a Switch port. Due to the hardware-intensive nature of the game, a Switch release seems unlikely—at least in its current form.
This also means that Switch-related crossplay isn’t something players should expect in the near future.
How to Prepare for Crossplay (When It Arrives)
While we wait for full crossplay support, here are a few tips to prepare:
1. Create a Larian Account
A Larian account is key to unlocking cross-save and will likely be part of crossplay integration as well. Make sure to:
- Sign up at larian.com
- Link your gaming platforms (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation)
- Enable cross-save in your settings
2. Keep the Game Updated
Larian is actively updating Baldur’s Gate 3 with new features, bug fixes, and patches. Make sure auto-updates are enabled on your system so you’re ready when crossplay is added.
3. Join the Community
Reddit, Discord, and Steam forums are great places to connect with other players and stay informed on development updates. Community feedback often helps shape game features—so your voice matters.
Pros of Crossplay in Baldur’s Gate 3
Once implemented, crossplay will bring major benefits:
– More Friends, Fewer Limits
You won’t have to worry about what console your friends are using. You can party up with anyone, anytime.
– Stronger Multiplayer Experience
With crossplay, the game’s multiplayer community becomes one big pool, which means:
- Easier matchmaking
- More diverse co-op sessions
- Shorter wait times
– Longevity for the Game
Crossplay extends the life of a multiplayer title by keeping the player base connected, regardless of platform.
Final Thoughts
While Baldur’s Gate 3 does not currently support crossplay, the feature is actively in development and highly anticipated. Larian Studios has a strong track record of supporting their games long after launch, so there’s every reason to believe that crossplay is coming sooner rather than later.
In the meantime, players can enjoy the game’s rich single-player campaign, local multiplayer options, and cloud-based cross-save support. If you’re looking to build a party with friends across platforms, keep an eye on official announcements—it’s only a matter of time.
FAQs
Q: Can PC and PS5 players play Baldur’s Gate 3 together?
A: Not yet. Crossplay is not currently available, but it is in development.
Q: Is cross-save the same as crossplay?
A: No. Cross-save lets you continue your game on different platforms. Crossplay lets you play with others across platforms.
Q: When will Baldur’s Gate crossplay be released?
A: There is no official release date, but Larian has confirmed it’s on the roadmap.
Q: Do I need a Larian account for crossplay?
A: While not confirmed, it’s highly likely that a Larian account will be required—just like with cross-save.