Official mod support is coming to Baldur’s Gate 3 in Patch 7, due out later this year

Patch 7 for the critically acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3 is on the way, and with it long-anticipated mod support. Due out in September, the patch will include integrated modding tools for game customization as well as connection to Mod.IO to make mods accessible across PC and console. Which is to say that soon you’ll be able to play the game where Lae’zel has a nose or Karlach has purple flames. The possibilities are endless… well, with the exception of a bunch of restrictions.

All of the things mods can’t do in Patch 7

Mod.IO allows cross-platform mods, but at the expense of additional scripting that a PC user would have access to, but not consoles. This will put a stop to any mod that allows changes to dialogue, additional quests, or other gameplay adjustments — such as having a larger party.

Supported mods will also be going through moderation, so mods that would break Dungeon & Dragon‘s license as well as mods of the spicy variety will be banned from Mod.IO. If you’re on PC, you can still use mods from unofficial sources, such as the main mod provider, Nexus Mods. However, they’re unsupported so Larian Studios will not help any issue these mods may cause. Xbox and PlayStation users will not have access to these unsupported mods, only the official, moderated collection.

So what can mods do in Patch 7?

As of now, it’s not entirely clear how much you’ll be able to do with the official mod-making system. Mods will be available for cosmetic changes — as long as they don’t break terms of service — as well as light scripting. In addition to cosmetic customizations, Larian specifically mentioned mods will be able to add new weapons, armor, classes, and subclasses.

As of now, Patch 7 is in limited alpha testing, with a larger beta scheduled for July, so we don’t have a clear example of everything we can do with the Mod.IO interface. The major benefit of using the built-in mod system is that as the mods will go through moderation and be officially supported — which means they (probably) won’t break your game and require workarounds or cause much-mourned lost save files. As anyone who do plays heavily-modded games knows, the hardest part about modding is preventing your game from crashing.

Larian Studios expects this patch to go live in September but we should be seeing more details, as well as technical demonstrations of the modding tools, as it enters closed beta. Before you know it, you’ll be give Wyll a funny hat to hide his horns while exploring the Shadow-Cursed Lands.