Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Crossplay Explained

Patch 8 removed the platform barrier between Baldur's Gate 3 parties. See which systems connect, how to enable an existing save, and what every player still needs.

Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 added full crossplay between PC and Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The update launched on April 15, 2025, and turned campaigns that were previously separated by platform into mixed-system online parties of up to four players.

Patch 8 also added two-player split screen to Xbox Series S. It did not add a Friend's Pass, remove online copy requirements, or make the game available on PS4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch. Those limits still matter when deciding how a group should buy and host the game.

This guide was rechecked against Larian's official update history on August 21, 2026. Patch 8 remains the major compatibility change; later hotfixes have addressed bugs and performance rather than removing its crossplay support.

What did Patch 8 change for co-op players?

Before Patch 8, online multiplayer stayed within each supported platform ecosystem. Patch 8 connected the PC and Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series versions through the Larian Network.

That means these online pairings now work:

Player one	Player two	Crossplay after Patch 8
PC or Mac	PS5	Supported
PC or Mac	Xbox Series X	S
PS5	Xbox Series X	S

A crossplay party can contain up to four players. The host still owns the campaign save and must load it when the group wants to continue. Crossplay changes who can connect to that campaign; it does not transfer ownership of the host's save or provide every participant with an independent campaign copy.

For the complete local and online player limits, see the Baldur's Gate 3 co-op compatibility page.

How to enable Baldur's Gate 3 crossplay

Every cross-platform participant needs a free Larian Account linked to the platform account used to play. Native PlayStation, Xbox, or Steam friend lists are not enough for a mixed-platform invitation because those players find one another through the Larian Network.

Set up each player before opening the campaign:

Link the Steam, GOG, PlayStation, or Xbox account to a Larian Account.
Open Options from the main menu.
Find Allow Cross-Play under the Gameplay tab and enable it.
Sign in through the Larian Account option on the main menu.
Open Manage Account, choose Friends List, and add the other player's Larian username.

To start a new campaign, open Multiplayer, select the Cross-Play tab, create a lobby, and invite the party before launching.

How to use crossplay with an existing save

Enabling the global crossplay setting is not the only step for an older campaign. Larian requires crossplay to be enabled on the individual save as well.

From the main menu:

Select Load Game.
Highlight the campaign save the group wants to continue.
Enable the save's Cross-Play checkbox.
Load the campaign.
Open Multiplayer and invite the Larian Network friends.

If an invitation is visible but the player cannot join, verify the save-level checkbox before reinstalling the game or buying another copy. Larian specifically tightened this behavior in Hotfix 32 so players cannot send crossplay invitations from a session whose save is not enabled for crossplay.

Can a modded campaign use crossplay?

Yes, but every player needs a compatible version of the same mods. Patch 8 added a Mod Verification window that identifies missing, outdated, or mismatched mods when someone tries to join.

Console and Mac players can only use mods carrying Larian's Available on Mac and Console designation. A PC host who wants console or Mac friends to join must keep the save within the console limit of 100 mods and avoid third-party PC-only mods.

The safest preparation is to compare the complete enabled-mod list before launch. A crossplay connection cannot make an unsupported PC mod run on a console, and disabling a campaign-critical mod can damage or change the save. Use a separate unmodded save when the group does not want to troubleshoot compatibility together.

What changed for Xbox Series S split screen?

Patch 8 added local two-player split screen to Xbox Series S. This brought the smaller Series console in line with the local co-op option already available on supported PC setups, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Two people sharing one Series S need one game copy and two compatible controllers. Split screen remains a two-player local mode, while a fully online party can contain up to four players.

Larian does not use the Patch 8 announcement to promise every possible hybrid arrangement between a local split-screen pair and remote crossplay players. If a group needs two people on one console plus remote players on other platforms, verify that exact combination in the current multiplayer interface before purchasing several versions.

What did Patch 8 not change?

Every online system still needs game access

Baldur's Gate 3 has no Friend's Pass or free guest client. One copy covers two people sharing a supported system in split screen, but each separately connected PC or console needs its own copy or licensed access.

Crossplay is a connection feature, not a shared purchase. The co-op copy requirements guide explains why these are separate questions.

Console online subscriptions still apply

Online PS5 players need PlayStation Plus access that includes multiplayer. Online Xbox players need an Xbox Game Pass plan that includes console multiplayer. PC and Mac players do not need an equivalent paid platform multiplayer subscription.

Local split screen does not require an online membership when the pair is playing offline. See the online co-op subscription guide for the broader platform rules.

Older consoles and Nintendo systems are still unsupported

Patch 8 did not create PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or Switch 2 versions. A PS4 player cannot join a PS5 campaign, and an Xbox One player cannot join Xbox Series friends because the game is not available on those older systems.

This is why crossplay and cross-generation play should not be treated as synonyms. The crossplay versus cross-generation guide explains the distinction.

Is Baldur's Gate 3 crossplay still supported in 2026?

Yes. Larian described Patch 8 as the final major content patch, but it continued releasing smaller hotfixes afterward. The latest official update listed when this article was checked is Hotfix 36 from March 26, 2026, which addressed crashes and performance problems across the supported platforms.

Nothing in those later official notes removes Patch 8 crossplay. Groups should still install the latest available game version before connecting, especially when the campaign uses mods. Version or mod mismatches are more useful troubleshooting targets than assuming crossplay itself has been discontinued.

Crossplay setup checklist

Before starting a mixed-platform campaign, confirm:

Every remote system owns or can access Baldur's Gate 3.
All players have installed the latest game update.
Each platform account is linked to a Larian Account.
Allow Cross-Play is enabled for everyone.
The host has added the others through the Larian Friends List.
Crossplay is enabled on an existing save before it is loaded.
Every mod and mod version matches across the party.
Console players have the required online multiplayer membership.
The chosen host can keep and reload the shared campaign save.

Once those checks are complete, PC/Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series players can build one four-person online party without matching platform families.

Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 Crossplay: What Changed for Co-op