Does Baldur's Gate 3 Have a Split Screen Local Co-op? Baldur's Gate 3 Gameplay, Plot, And More
by Sharmila
Updated Aug 03, 2023
Does Baldur's Gate 3 Have a Split Screen Local Co-op?
Yes, Baldur's Gate 3 does have split-screen local co-op available at launch on PC and PS5. This feature allows up to two players to play the entire game together in local couch co-op multiplayer. The remaining two party members will be filled by AI-controlled companions.
While the online multiplayer mode supports up to four players simultaneously, split-screen local co-op is limited to two players on the same device. This limitation is likely due to technical constraints, as the game involves many complex systems that would make dividing the screen into four parts challenging and potentially affect the overall experience.
Larian Studios, the developer of Baldur's Gate 3, has a history of including split-screen support in their games, as seen in Divinity Original Sin 2. In Baldur's Gate 3, the inclusion of split-screen and local co-op is a top priority for the studio, catering to players who enjoy playing with friends on the same screen.
The development team encountered challenges in implementing split-screen on the Xbox system, which has resulted in a delay for the official release of Baldur's Gate 3 on Xbox. Larian Studios is committed to ensuring that the game performs without compromise across the entire Xbox X|S ecosystem, both in multiplayer and with split-screen support.
The split-screen co-op feature allows players to enjoy the entire game together, from taking on side quests to tackling main quests and exploring the diverse and intricate Baldur's Gate 3 map. Multiplayer gameplay, whether in split-screen local co-op or online multiplayer, can also impact the length of the game, making it an important consideration for players.
In split-screen local co-op, players can form synergies with each other, complementing their characters' abilities and party composition. This creates unique opportunities during exploration and questing, such as using specific character classes to unlock locked areas or solve puzzles.
Overall, the inclusion of split-screen local co-op adds a social and interactive element to the gameplay experience, allowing players to team up with friends and strategize together to overcome challenges in the world of Baldur's Gate 3. Whether playing with AI companions in single-player or forming a party with friends, the game offers a rich and immersive Dungeons & Dragons experience that encourages cooperative play and exploration.
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It serves as the third main installment in the Baldur's Gate series, which is renowned for its roots in the iconic Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system. The game provides players with an immersive and expansive experience set in the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons.
The game was initially released in early access format on October 6, 2020, for macOS, Windows, and the Stadia streaming service. Early access allowed players to access a partial version of the game while it was still in development, giving them a chance to provide feedback, report bugs, and actively participate in shaping the final product.
During its early access phase, players had the opportunity to explore the game world, test gameplay mechanics, and experience the story up to a certain point. This allowed Larian Studios to gather valuable feedback from the community and make necessary improvements to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
After a period of rigorous development and refinement, Baldur's Gate III reached its full release on PC on August 3, 2023. The official release provided players with the complete and polished version of the game, offering a comprehensive narrative, refined mechanics, and additional content not available during the early access phase.
Shortly after the PC release, on September 6, 2023, the game was also made available on the PlayStation 5 platform, expanding its reach to a wider audience of console players. The PlayStation 5 version brought the same rich RPG experience to players on the console, with optimized performance and controls suited for the platform.
Furthermore, the game developers are actively working on a port for the Xbox Series X/S, which will bring the Baldur's Gate III experience to Xbox players. The development team is committed to ensuring that the Xbox version meets the same quality standards and gameplay excellence as the PC and PlayStation 5 releases.
Unfortunately, the Stadia version of Baldur's Gate III was canceled following the closure of the Stadia streaming service. This decision was likely made due to the closure of the platform, which led to the discontinuation of support for Stadia-specific games.
Overall, Baldur's Gate III has been a highly anticipated title among RPG enthusiasts, and its development journey showcases Larian Studios' dedication to delivering an immersive and true-to-form Dungeons & Dragons experience. The game's full release on PC and subsequent launch on PlayStation 5 demonstrates the team's commitment to reaching a broad audience of players and providing them with an epic adventure in the beloved Baldur's Gate universe. With an Xbox Series X/S version in the works, even more players will have the opportunity to explore the vast and captivating world of Baldur's Gate III.
Baldur's Gate 3 Gameplay
Baldur's Gate III offers an engaging and immersive gameplay experience, combining elements of single-player exploration and cooperative multiplayer interaction. Players have the flexibility to create one or more characters to form a party and embark on a thrilling adventure set in the iconic world of Dungeons & Dragons.
Character Creation: Players have the freedom to create their protagonist, customizing various attributes, abilities, and appearance traits. They can choose from a range of character classes, such as Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, Cleric, and more, each with its unique abilities and playstyle. Additionally, players can select a race, such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, Tiefling, and others, which will further influence their character's abilities and story interactions.
Party Formation: As players progress through the game, they have the opportunity to recruit computer-generated characters as companions. These companions have their personalities, backstories, and special abilities, adding depth to the party dynamics. Players can strategically choose their party members based on their individual strengths and weaknesses, creating a well-rounded group to tackle the challenges ahead.
Exploration: The game world of Baldur's Gate III is vast and diverse, filled with captivating landscapes, intricate dungeons, and compelling quests. Players can freely explore the open-world environment, interact with NPCs, uncover hidden secrets, and engage in meaningful conversations that may influence the course of the narrative.
Turn-Based Combat: One of the notable changes in Baldur's Gate III is its turn-based combat system. During combat encounters, the game switches to a turn-based mode, allowing players to take strategic actions on their turn. This tactical approach to combat adds depth and complexity to battles, enabling players to plan their moves carefully and utilize their character's unique abilities effectively.
D&D 5th Edition Rules: The game mechanics are based on the popular Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, which are revered by tabletop RPG enthusiasts. This adherence to the D&D ruleset ensures an authentic and faithful representation of the D&D experience within the digital realm. Players familiar with the tabletop version will find the transition seamless, while newcomers can easily grasp the mechanics and enjoy the immersive gameplay.
Cooperative Multiplayer: In addition to the single-player experience, Baldur's Gate III offers cooperative multiplayer functionality. Players can team up online with other players to form a party, each controlling their characters. This cooperative mode encourages collaboration, as players can coordinate their strategies and abilities to overcome challenging encounters together.
Choices and Consequences: As with previous games in the Baldur's Gate series, choices made by players have significant consequences throughout the game. Decisions in dialogue, quests, and interactions with NPCs can impact the storyline, alter character relationships, and shape the overall outcome of the adventure. This feature adds replayability and a sense of agency, making each playthrough a unique and personalized experience.
Overall, Baldur's Gate III delivers a rich and engrossing gameplay experience, blending classic D&D elements with modern mechanics. The game's deep character customization, strategic combat, and meaningful choices ensure that players are fully immersed in a captivating and epic journey through the fantastical world of Baldur's Gate.
Baldur's Gate 3 Plot
The plot of Baldur's Gate III takes place in the year 1492 DR, a significant time after the events of Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and a few months after Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus. The game sets the stage in the iconic Dungeons & Dragons world of Faerûn, which is once again threatened by forces of darkness.
The player assumes the role of the protagonist, whose name is chosen by the player themselves. At the beginning of the game, the protagonist finds themselves taken captive by the mind flayers, also known as illithids, a powerful and sinister race of extraplanar beings. The mind flayers are on the verge of launching an invasion of Faerûn and have a nefarious plan to transform their captives into other mind flayers using parasitic illithid tadpoles.
However, during this perilous situation, fate takes an unexpected turn. The nautiloid flying ship that carries the protagonist and other victims is attacked by githyanki warriors, a race of powerful astral warriors known for their hatred of mind flayers. The githyanki warriors ride fierce red dragons and launch a ferocious assault on the illithids' ship.
Amidst the chaos of the battle, the protagonist gains an opportunity to escape their captors. Seizing the moment, they manage to free themselves from the illithid control and take control of the damaged ship. With determination, the protagonist steers the vessel back to Faerûn, where it eventually crash-lands.
Now free from the illithid's control, the protagonist's primary objective becomes finding a way to remove the illithid tadpole parasite implanted within them. Along their journey, they encounter other survivors of the crash, forming an unlikely group of companions with diverse backgrounds and abilities.
These survivors include Gale, a talented human wizard; Shadowheart, a half-elf cleric with mysterious intentions; Astarion, a high elf rogue who is also a vampire; Wyll, a human warlock with a hidden past; and Lae'zel, a githyanki fighter from the same race as the warriors who attacked the illithid ship.
As the protagonist and their companions navigate the dangerous and fantastical world of Faerûn, they must work together to confront the rising darkness and overcome various challenges. Along their journey, they will encounter formidable foes, engage in tactical combat, and make impactful decisions that shape the outcome of the story.
The central theme of the plot revolves around the struggle against the mind flayers and the journey of the protagonist as they seek to break free from the parasite's influence. As the story unfolds, the characters will reveal their pasts, develop complex relationships, and form deep bonds as they collectively face the threats that loom over Faerûn.
Baldur's Gate III offers players an epic and immersive narrative experience, blending exploration, strategic combat, and character-driven storytelling in the rich and captivating world of Dungeons & Dragons. Throughout the game, players will confront their own inner demons while battling the darkness that threatens to engulf Faerûn once again.
Does Baldur's Gate 3 Have a Split Screen local Co-op - FAQs
Baldur's Gate III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment in the Baldur's Gate series and is based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system.
Baldur's Gate III was initially released in early access format for macOS, Windows, and the Stadia streaming service. The full release is available on PC since August 3, 2023, and it was released on the PlayStation 5 on September 6, 2023. An Xbox Series X/S version is also in development.
Yes, Baldur's Gate III offers split-screen local co-op on PC and PS5, allowing two players to play together on the same device. The remaining two party members will be controlled by AI companions. Online multiplayer supports up to four players at once.
Baldur's Gate III features turn-based combat, a departure from the real-time combat of previous games in the series. The combat system is based on the D&D 5th Edition rules and provides tactical gameplay during battles.
In Baldur's Gate III, set in the year 1492 DR, the player character is taken captive by mind flayers who have launched an invasion of Faerûn. After being implanted with an illithid tadpole, the protagonist escapes during a githyanki attack and crash-lands back in Faerûn. They must now find a way to remove the parasite while teaming up with other survivors to confront the rising darkness threatening the world.