BG3 Split-Screen Improved, Multiplayer Still Lags

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Patch 7 for Baldur's Gate 3 improves split-screen co-op and party banter, but players remain frustrated by disjointed multiplayer system.

Story Highlights
  • Patch 7 will enhance multiplayer by improving split-screen co-op and party banter.
  • In multiplayer, each player controls their own party, leading to a disjointed experience that many players find frustrating.
  • Larian Studios is committed to future updates for Baldur’s Gate 3 while developing two new RPG projects.

In 2023, there were many great game releases, but Baldur’s Gate 3 stood out. It sold over 15 million copies and won the Game of the Year award at nearly every event, making it one of the year’s most successful releases.

YouTube video

Larian Studios has announced Patch 7 for Baldur’s Gate 3, detailing several exciting new features. The update adds official mod support with a toolkit for players to create their own mods. It also introduces dynamic split-screen co-op and includes narrative and cinematic improvements to enhance the game’s storytelling.

However, Patch 7’s release has been unexpectedly delayed due to a bug affecting passive rolls. Larian Studios is working to fix these bugs before releasing the patch. The update is expected to go live in September.

Enhancements For Co-op Play And Party Banter

One of the most promising features in Patch 7 is the split-screen co-op enhancement. This update allows the screen partitions to disappear when characters are near each other, making the game visually cleaner and improving screenshot quality.

BG3 Split-Screen enhancement
Split Screen Enhancement – GIF Credit (Steam Store)

Previously, the split-screen setup often hindered combat and movement, a common issue for players. This change addresses those concerns and fulfills a long-standing request from the split-screen community, making the gameplay experience much more enjoyable.

Further, In Baldur’s Gate 3, players were experiencing issues with party banter, particularly in multiplayer scenarios. Banter, the in-game dialogue between companions, was previously limited to characters controlled by a single player and sometimes inaccessible during certain game parts.

In Patch 7, Larian Studios enhanced party banter by enabling interactions between characters controlled by different players. This update enriches the multiplayer experience, making conversations smoother and more inclusive.

Why Split-Screen Feature Falls Short In Multiplayer

In the BG3 co-op system, each player controls their own party, making everything feel disjointed. When I’m talking to a companion, the others’ companions just stand by, completely unresponsive. Many players have expressed similar frustrations due to this bad co-op system. 

Evil Ending in BG3
Evil Ending – GIF Credit (Steam Store)

Moreover, approval points are split between us, and interactions don’t repeat easily. It’s a slow grind to build relationships with companions. I’m also frustrated because only the player controlling a companion can talk to them, limiting my ability to interact with or influence my friends’ companions.

I get why it’s set up this way. No one wants to be responsible for what others do in their game, and separating parties helps avoid crossover. But for me, the relationships are everything.

Baldur's Gate 3 character customization
Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Customization – Image Credit (Tech4Gamers)

You might manage if you’re okay with focusing on gameplay rather than relationships. But if you want to experience the game’s rich interactions together, multiplayer still misses the mark. I’m hoping for improvements, but for now, it feels lacking.

Future Updates And Ongoing Support For BG3

Despite previous indications from Larian’s CEO, Swen Vincke, that the studio might not continue major updates after Patch 7, the latest Community Update on Twitter has assured fans that more updates are coming.

These future updates will include community-requested features like crossplay and a photo mode, gameplay tweaks, mod supports, bug fixes, and extra cinematics.

YouTube video

Additionally, the studio is ramping up development on its next project, one of two new RPGs in the works that will not feature a Dungeons & Dragons storyline, according to Larian’s studio. Despite moving on to new projects, Larian remains committed to enhancing Baldur’s Gate 3 with more updates.

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