Will Baldur’s Gate 3 Be on Console?

“Baldur’s Gate 3” (BG3 for short) is one of the biggest games to launch in 2023. It continues the Baldur’s Gate series, which has mostly been a PC-centric franchise. But, with modern consoles more popular and powerful than ever, PlayStation and Xbox owners are also eager to give this game a try.

This guide will take a look at Baldur’s Gate 3’s console compatibility.

Baldur’s Gate 3 on Console

At launch, Baldur’s Gate 3 was only available for Windows players. However, various other versions of the game have been in development and are set for future releases. That includes console versions for both the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X/S. Here’s the full scoop for each console.

PlayStation

PlayStation fans won’t have to wait too long after the game’s initial launch to play Baldur’s Gate 3 with their gamepads. The game is set to be released for PlayStation 5 consoles on September 6, about a month after its PC release.

However, BG3 won’t be available for PS4 due to the limitations of the last-gen device. But PS5 users should be able to enjoy a great experience playing the game on their home consoles.

Xbox

The Xbox Series X/S version of Baldur’s Gate 3 is confirmed to be in the works, but it doesn’t have an official release date yet. This means that Xbox owners will have to wait a while longer before they can buy and play the game on their consoles.

When asked why the Xbox version is so slow to come out, the developers made a Reddit post. They explained that their Xbox version has had some technical issues, especially when trying to run the game in split-screen co-op.

They added that they’re still working on the version and will announce a release date when they’re confident in the product’s quality and performance. In terms of when the Xbox version will come out, the company hasn’t given any kind of timeframe. It could be weeks, months, or longer.

Switch

Nintendo Switch fans, unfortunately, won’t be able to play Baldur s Gate 3 on their platform of choice. The company has only confirmed console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. There are no reports of a Switch version.

This may be due to the Switch’s technical limitations. Baldur’s Gate 3 is quite a rich, detailed game with a vast world and seamless co-operative multiplayer. It’s possible that the Switch simply isn’t equipped to handle the game in its current state.

There could potentially be a Switch release in the future, as other games that had previously been Xbox and PlayStation-only have ended up on Switch. But, for now, it doesn’t look likely.

What Other Platforms Is Baldur’s Gate 3 On?

As well as the consoles, Baldur’s Gate is currently available for Windows devices and the Steam Deck. It’s also got a Mac release date of September 6 2023, which is the same date as the PS5 version.

Is There Cross-Platform Support for Consoles?

In terms of cross-platform support, Baldur’s Gate 3 doesn’t have cross-platform multiplayer at launch. This means that PS5 players won’t be able to connect with PC players. It’s also likely that, when the Xbox version comes out, players won’t be able to do co-op with PS5, PC, or Mac players, either.

With that said, this may change in the future. There’s a possibility that the game could get an update at some stage which might enable players on different consoles to team up together. In the meantime though, it’s not an option.

Baldur’s Gate 3 does, however, support cross-platform progression. This means that you could start the game on PC, and then later on switch to your PS5 and access the same save file and characters. All you have to do to enable this is make a Larian account to save your files online.

The Differences of Playing on Console

Historically, Baldur’s Gate games have primarily been released for computers only and designed with mouse and keyboard controls in mind. Baldur’s Gate 3 will be different, and the experience of playing on console won’t be quite the same as on a PC.

Controls

Arguably the biggest difference between the two systems is the controls. On PC, players can use the mouse to point and click in order to guide their characters around and navigate the menus. They also have all the keys of the keyboard for things like spells and abilities.

Console controllers are very different, with analog sticks and a relatively small selection of buttons. For Baldur’s Gate 3, the analog sticks will allow players to guide their characters around. The smaller range of buttons may lead to more time spent in the menus and a slower pace of play overall.

Graphics

Even though modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X have great graphical capabilities, PCs still lead the way in visual performance. The benefit of a PC is that you can upgrade graphics cards and processors over time to make the device more powerful and get better results.

That’s not the case with consoles, which have a fixed set of internal components. Because of this, the graphical performance may not be quite as crisp and fluid on console. It should still be a very beautiful game to play, but not quite as nice as it would be on a high-end PC.

Settings

Another big difference between the computer and console versions concerns the settings. On computers, Baldur’s Gate 3 comes with a huge range of graphical and control settings for users to customize. This is quite common for PC games.

Console versions of the game aren’t expected to launch with anywhere near the same range of options. There will still be some ways to adjust and customize the game experience, but not quite as many as on PC. Plus, PC versions have mod support (although usually limited to Windows at first), which offers even more customization. But mods aren’t available on consoles.

FAQs

Should I play on console or computer?

It depends. If you have a high-end computer and like playing on PC in general, you’ll get a great experience of Baldur’s Gate 3 with the Windows version. If your PC doesn’t quite have the right specs to cope with the game, it might be better to wait and purchase one of the console versions instead.

Is there any advantage to playing on console?

The game isn’t any easier or harder on a console, and some people simply prefer the console experience. With a console, you can enjoy the game on a huge TV screen and sit on a sofa or armchair while playing, for example. Many players like this more comfortable, cinematic style of gaming. Another advantage is that, if you have friends who are also console players, you could play co-op with them.

Consoles Join the Fun for Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is being talked about as one of the best games of the year so far. Since it’s available on more platforms, even more players are going to be able to try it out and enjoy it for themselves. Switch players are unfortunately left out, and Xbox fans will have to wait, but it’s clear that Larian Studios is trying to make the game available for as many players as possible.

Which version of the game do you plan on buying? Do you think a Switch version might come out someday? Share your thoughts in the comments section.