Larian Studios will add official mod tools support, along with a modkit, to Baldur’s Gate 3 in September, with new details on the closed alpha beginning today and more testing planned before a final release.
Patch 7 is a bit one, so with this, they are splitting it. This means the next major update coming in September will not just strengthen mod support but will release the official toolkit. A closed alpha begins today with a limited group of community modders. The invited modders will test the tools and get a chance to recreate their mods using the official toolkit as part of this process.
Part of releasing an official mod toolkit and mod support this way is to reduce the number of potential issues when people are using third-party mods. They're not going to impede using outside mods, but they're also creating this as a simple option and with the collaboration of makers of well-known mods to assist.
In their latest community update, the team outlines the details of the process and what comes next on the way to September’s expected full kit launch. The initial closed beta starts today and the team will invite additional modders to take part over time. In July, expect a closed beta with about 1,000 players on PC. Not only will you get a look at the tools, you'll also get a chance to test the mods that people created during the closed alpha.
With each portion of the tests building on what came before, Larian will spend a few months over the summer to polish things up, test it all, and work with the feedback they get from the tests to get this out in September. There will be more coming in Patch 7, and beyond, with the team having promised improved evil endings, an in-game photo mode, cross play, and additional improvements.
