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'''Early Access''', or ''EA'' for short, is the funding and development model [[Larian Studios]] followed at the start of the game. Early Access games consists of buyers receiving an unfinished and/or unpolished version of the game in order to help providing feedback and funds, helping on the completion of it.
{{see also|:Category:Legacy content|Cut and unimplemented content}}


Larian decided to follow this model after seeing their continuous success in their previous games, Divinty: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2, which followed the same model.  
'''Early Access''', frequently abbreviated as '''EA''', is a funding and development model used by video games.


The Early Access of [[Baldur's Gate 3]] started on October 6th, 2020. Since then, Larian has released multiple patches fixing bugs and changing or adding content depending on the users' feedback. At the start, the game offered a limited amount of [[Class|classes]], [[Race|races]], [[companions]] and quests.
As like their two previous releases, ''Divinity: Original Sin'' and ''Divinity: Original Sin 2'', [[Larian Studios]] used the Early Access model for ''Baldur's Gate 3'', releasing an Early Access version of the game's [[Act One|first act]] on October 6th 2020.


Baldur's Gate 3's ''EA'' costed 60 US Dollars and remained the same on release. Early Access buyers '''did not''' have to buy the game again on full release.
Players could help with development by providing feedback or reporting bugs in-game.


The updates could be divided in two big groups; '''hotfixes''', which only focused on fixing a certain amount of usually game-breaking bugs or crashes, and '''patches''', which were updates usually surpassing 50 GB on size and added or vastly modified content and improved stability.
Larian released multiple patches for Early Access, fixing bugs and changing or adding content, sometimes based on community feedback.


== Timeline ==
== Timeline ==
''Main page: [[Patch notes]]''
=== 2020 ===
=== 2020 ===
* '''February'''
* '''February'''
Line 19: Line 17:
* '''October'''
* '''October'''


'''6''': '''Early Acess is launched.'''
'''6''': '''Early Access is launched.'''


'''7''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=679372#Post679372 Hotfix #1] is released.
'''7''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=679372#Post679372 Hotfix #1] is released.
Line 27: Line 25:
'''9''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=684502#Post684502 Hotfix #3] is released.
'''9''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=684502#Post684502 Hotfix #3] is released.


'''13''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2896336186753128622 Patch 1] is released.
'''13''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2896336186753128622 '''Patch 1'''] is released.


'''27''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2934618050801266876 Patch 2] is released.
'''27''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2934618050801266876 '''Patch 2'''] is released.


'''30''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?updates=true&emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2924485584688473627 Hotfix #4] is released.
'''30''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?updates=true&emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2924485584688473627 Hotfix #4] is released.
Line 35: Line 33:
* '''December'''
* '''December'''


'''2''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2894089457947101686 Patch 3], first in a line of tens of GBs in size and save-breaking patches is released. This patch focused on stability and added options for pacifist players.
'''2''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=2894089457947101686 '''Patch 3'''], first in a line of tens of GBs in size and save-breaking Patches is released. This patch focused on stability and added options for pacifist players.


'''8''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=743340#Post743340 Hotfix #5] is released.
'''8''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=743340#Post743340 Hotfix #5] is released.
Line 44: Line 42:
* '''February'''
* '''February'''


'''25''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?updates=true&emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=3030330956943251733 Patch 4] is releasead. [[Druid]] class is added alongisde an improvement on cinematics, stability and multiple ''Quality of Life'' features.
'''25''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940?updates=true&emclan=103582791464711919&emgid=3030330956943251733 '''Patch 4'''] is released. [[Druid]] class is added alongside an improvement on cinematics, stability and multiple ''Quality of Life'' features.


'''26''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=760262#Post760262 Hotfix #7] is released.
'''26''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=760262#Post760262 Hotfix #7] is released.
Line 64: Line 62:
* '''July'''
* '''July'''


'''15''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=780440#Post780440 Patch 5] is released. A patch bigger in size than the fourth one, this update improved and changed multiple systems users sent feedback about: mainly the camping and dice rolling system, besides adding point-and-click barks, background goals and cinematics.
'''15''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=780440#Post780440 '''Patch 5'''] is released. A patch bigger in size than the fourth one, this update improved and changed multiple systems users sent feedback about: mainly the camping and dice rolling system, besides adding point-and-click barks, background goals and cinematics.


'''22''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=782296#Post782296 Hotfix #12] is released.
'''22''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=782296#Post782296 Hotfix #12] is released.
Line 77: Line 75:


* '''October'''
* '''October'''
'''14''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=792767#Post792767 Patch 6] is released. A patch bigger in size than the fifth one, this update added the [[Sorcerer]] class. alongside the [[Grymforge]] region and a vast graphical update. Also, the typical bug-fixing and stability improvements.
 
'''6''': '''Early Access becomes one year old'''.
 
'''14''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=792767#Post792767 '''Patch 6'''] is released. A patch bigger in size than the fifth one, this update added the [[Sorcerer]] class alongside the [[Grymforge]] region and a big graphical update. Also, the typical bug-fixing and stability improvements.


'''21''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=795172#Post795172 Hotfix #16] is released.
'''21''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=795172#Post795172 Hotfix #16] is released.
Line 90: Line 91:


'''2''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=802923#Post802923 Hotfix #19] is released.
'''2''': [https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=802923#Post802923 Hotfix #19] is released.
=== 2022 ===
* '''February'''
'''15''': [https://t.co/iJP0WYJDjb '''Patch 7'''] is released. It adds the [[Barbarian]] class along with [[Improvised Weapon Attack|Improvised Weapons]], UI redesign, over 700 improved cinematics and more.
'''22''' [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940/view/3103546793469782939 Hotfix #20] is released.
* '''March'''
'''3''': [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1086940/view/3103548062064061789 Hotfix #21] is released.
'''16''': Hotfix #22 is released.
* '''April'''
'''7''': Hotfix #23 is released.
* '''July'''
'''7''': '''[https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=818832#Post818832 Patch 8]''' is released. Its main additions were the [[Bard]] class and [[Gnome]] race.
'''8''': Hotfix #24 is released.
'''12''': Hotfix #25 is released.
'''20''': Hotfix #26 is released.
'''29''': Hotfix #27 is released.
* '''August'''
'''8''': Hotfix #28 is released.
* '''September'''
'''13''': Hotfix #29 is released.
* '''October'''
'''6''': '''Early Access becomes two years old'''.
* '''December'''
'''8''': Larian Studios announces at the Video Game Awards the release date of the full game, '''August 2023''', with this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOWGnC3h9WQ&ab_channel=LarianStudios trailer].
'''14''': '''[https://forums.larian.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=834832#Post834832 Patch 9]''' is released. It adds the [[Paladin]] class, a revamped Reaction system, and the level cap is increased to 5. It is revealed this to be the '''last content update for Early Access''' in preparation for the final release on August 2023.
'''22''': Hotfix #30 is released.
=== 2023 ===
* '''January'''
'''17''': Hotfix #31 is released.
'''25''': Hotfix #32 is released.
* '''February'''
'''23''': Release date for the full game is announced. Baldur's Gate 3 is planned to release on August 31, 2023. PS5 is also announced as one of the platforms, with this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-KF9iueE0&ab_channel=LarianStudios trailer].
* '''June'''
'''29''': The PC release date is moved to August 3, 2023 instead of August 31, while the PS5 date is delayed to September 6. The level cap is announced to be 12; [[Dragonborn]], [[Half-Orc]], and [[Dwarf#Duergar|Duergar]] are announced as playable races; [[Monk]] is announced as a playable class, and multiclass is confirmed; [[Karlach]] is announced as a [[Companions|Origin Character]] while [[Halsin]] and [[Minthara]] are promoted to [[Companions]]; new difficulty levels, [[Spells]], [[Feats]], and all release subclasses are announced.

Latest revision as of 22:41, 9 June 2024

See also: Category:Legacy content and Cut and unimplemented content

Early Access, frequently abbreviated as EA, is a funding and development model used by video games.

As like their two previous releases, Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2, Larian Studios used the Early Access model for Baldur's Gate 3, releasing an Early Access version of the game's first act on October 6th 2020.

Players could help with development by providing feedback or reporting bugs in-game.

Larian released multiple patches for Early Access, fixing bugs and changing or adding content, sometimes based on community feedback.

Timeline[edit | edit source]

2020[edit | edit source]

  • February

27: Gameplay reveal at PAX East.

  • August

25: Early Access is announced to be launched on September 30th.

  • October

6: Early Access is launched.

7: Hotfix #1 is released.

8: Hotfix #2 is released.

9: Hotfix #3 is released.

13: Patch 1 is released.

27: Patch 2 is released.

30: Hotfix #4 is released.

  • December

2: Patch 3, first in a line of tens of GBs in size and save-breaking Patches is released. This patch focused on stability and added options for pacifist players.

8: Hotfix #5 is released.

15: Hotfix #6 is released.

2021[edit | edit source]

  • February

25: Patch 4 is released. Druid class is added alongside an improvement on cinematics, stability and multiple Quality of Life features.

26: Hotfix #7 is released.

  • March

4: Hotfix #8 is released.

23: Hotfix #9 is released.

  • April

15: Hotfix #10 is released.

  • May

12: Hotfix #11 is released.

  • July

15: Patch 5 is released. A patch bigger in size than the fourth one, this update improved and changed multiple systems users sent feedback about: mainly the camping and dice rolling system, besides adding point-and-click barks, background goals and cinematics.

22: Hotfix #12 is released.

  • August

5: Hotfix #13 is released.

24: Hotfix #14 is released.

31: Hotfix #15 is released.

  • October

6: Early Access becomes one year old.

14: Patch 6 is released. A patch bigger in size than the fifth one, this update added the Sorcerer class alongside the Grymforge region and a big graphical update. Also, the typical bug-fixing and stability improvements.

21: Hotfix #16 is released.

28: Hotfix #17 is released.

  • November

16: Hotfix #18 is released.

  • December

2: Hotfix #19 is released.

2022[edit | edit source]

  • February

15: Patch 7 is released. It adds the Barbarian class along with Improvised Weapons, UI redesign, over 700 improved cinematics and more.

22 Hotfix #20 is released.

  • March

3: Hotfix #21 is released.

16: Hotfix #22 is released.

  • April

7: Hotfix #23 is released.

  • July

7: Patch 8 is released. Its main additions were the Bard class and Gnome race.

8: Hotfix #24 is released.

12: Hotfix #25 is released.

20: Hotfix #26 is released.

29: Hotfix #27 is released.

  • August

8: Hotfix #28 is released.

  • September

13: Hotfix #29 is released.

  • October

6: Early Access becomes two years old.

  • December

8: Larian Studios announces at the Video Game Awards the release date of the full game, August 2023, with this trailer.

14: Patch 9 is released. It adds the Paladin class, a revamped Reaction system, and the level cap is increased to 5. It is revealed this to be the last content update for Early Access in preparation for the final release on August 2023.

22: Hotfix #30 is released.

2023[edit | edit source]

  • January

17: Hotfix #31 is released.

25: Hotfix #32 is released.

  • February

23: Release date for the full game is announced. Baldur's Gate 3 is planned to release on August 31, 2023. PS5 is also announced as one of the platforms, with this trailer.

  • June

29: The PC release date is moved to August 3, 2023 instead of August 31, while the PS5 date is delayed to September 6. The level cap is announced to be 12; Dragonborn, Half-Orc, and Duergar are announced as playable races; Monk is announced as a playable class, and multiclass is confirmed; Karlach is announced as a Origin Character while Halsin and Minthara are promoted to Companions; new difficulty levels, Spells, Feats, and all release subclasses are announced.

Retrieved from "https://dev.bg3.wiki/w/index.php?title=Early_Access&oldid=191798"