Technologies

Baldur’s Gate 3’s Last Patch Is So Good It Feels Like a Whole New Game

Baldur’s Gate 3 gets a major send-off with new tools, new classes and some hidden gems.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is closing out its development with a massive final patch, and it’s a gift to fans who’ve stuck with one of our best PC games since its launch.

Larian Studios’ Patch 8 is the last major content update for the roleplaying game, but it’s much more than bug fixes. This latest patch introduces cross-platform multiplayer, an all-new photo mode and a full set of new subclasses that shake up how every class plays. In short, it’s a major update and one that cements the game’s legacy as the studio prepares to move on.

Whether you’re just getting your sea legs with a brand-new game of Baldur’s Gate or you’re a seasoned player ready to see it through to the end, here’s everything that’s packed into this epic send-off.

Cross-play means no more walls between platforms

The biggest feature of Patch 8 is full cross-play across PC, Mac, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. You can now jump into multiplayer sessions with friends on any supported platform, with cross-save support also letting you carry your progress between devices if you’re using a linked Larian account.

Getting started is simple: Connect your game to your Larian profile, enable cross-play in the gameplay settings, and add friends using their Larian usernames. After that, you can join or host multiplayer sessions no matter what system you or your friends play on.

Mod support is also part of the mix, but with some caveats. Everyone in a cross-play session needs the exact same mod setup, and console users are capped at 100 mods. Mods must be installed via Larian’s in-game manager (not through third-party tools), so keep that in mind when you’re looking for a new favorite to try out.

A dozen new subclasses refresh every class

Each of the game’s 12 core classes now has a brand-new subclass option, expanding the possibilities for players who want to try something different in their next campaign. Whether you’re into arcane sniping, necrotic magic or charming enemies into submission, there’s a new flavor for everyone.

Some highlights include the Swashbuckler for Rogues, bringing fast, flashy melee combat; the Circle of Stars for Druids, which draws on celestial energy; and the Hexblade for Warlocks, who forge pacts with sentient weapons.

These subclasses aren’t just cosmetic changes — they include unique mechanics, new spells and custom animations that meaningfully change how each character plays. Here’s the complete list of new subclasses you can now choose from:

Path of the Giant Barbarian
College of Glamour Bard
Death Domain Cleric
Circle of Stars Druid
Arcane Archer Fighter
Way of the Drunken Master Monk
Oath of the Crown Paladin
Swarmkeeper Ranger
Swashbuckler Rogue
Shadow Magic Sorcerer
Hexblade Warlock
Bladesinging Wizard

You can unlock each new subclass after you reach each required level, which will change depending on your class. For instance, a Cleric, Sorcerer, Paladin or Warlock can choose a new subclass at Level 1, but a Druid and Wizard must wait until Level 2. A Barbarian, Bard, Fighter, Monk, Ranger or Rogue must wait until Level 3.

Photo mode is a game changer for creators

If you’ve ever wanted to freeze the action and line up the perfect screenshot (or just fawn over Astarion in the moonlight), now’s your chance. Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 introduces an official photo mode, and it’s more than just a camera tool. Players can adjust lighting, add filters, change facial expressions, shift character poses and more — all in real time.

Photo mode can be activated by pressing F9 on PC or clicking both thumbsticks on a controller. You can use it during combat or exploration, though it won’t be available during dialogue or prerendered scenes. Once snapped, images are saved directly to your system, whether you’re on a PC, a Mac or a console.

Steam cards, modding tools and a farewell short

Patch 8 for Baldur’s Gate 3 gives PC players something extra to look forward to: Steam Trading Cards are now live. Collecting them lets you craft profile badges and unlock exclusive emotes and backgrounds tied to Baldur’s Gate 3.

The patch also brings improvements to Larian’s official modding tools. Creators now have more freedom to add NPCs, create interactive environments and build new experiences within the existing world — though editing fixed terrain is still off-limits for now.

To mark the arrival of the final Baldur’s Gate 3 update, Larian released a lighthearted animated short featuring the game’s main cast and a cameo from studio founder Swen Vincke. It’s a charming little tribute that reminds players just how much personality the team brought to this RPG. If you haven’t played it yet, you’re probably going to want to after this.

No DLC coming, but support continues

Larian has confirmed that Patch 8 is the final major update for Baldur’s Gate 3. There are no expansions or sequels in the pipeline, and the team is officially moving on to new projects. However, that doesn’t mean the game is being left behind entirely. Bug fixes, quality-of-life tweaks and backend improvements will continue for the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, this final patch is a powerful way to wrap up this epic role-playing game. It smooths out rough edges, adds meaningful content and gives players new tools to enjoy the game in even more creative ways. Whether you’re rolling a new character, testing out a subclass or finally convincing your Xbox friend to join your campaign, Patch 8 makes Baldur’s Gate 3 feel new again, just in time to say goodbye.

You can read the full patch notes here.

Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Nov. 4, #1599

Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Nov. 4, No. 1,599.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle begins with one of the least-used letters in the alphabet. (Check our full list ranking the letters by popularity.) If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has one repeated letter.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels, but one is the repeated letter, so you’ll see that one twice.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with V.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with E.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to the place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is VENUE.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Nov. 3, No. 1598 was AWOKE.

Recent Wordle answers

Oct. 30, No. 1594: LATHE

Oct. 31, No. 1595: ABHOR

Nov. 1, No. 1596: MOTEL

Nov. 2, No. 1597: RABID

Technologies

Why You Should Consider a Burner Phone for Your Holiday Travel This Year

If you’re traveling internationally, carrying a simple phone that doesn’t store personal information can be a smart move when entering the US.

Travel is challenging enough, and this year adds a new hurdle. US border agents are stepping up searches of travelers entering the country — even US citizens returning from overseas — and that extends to their personal devices. These searches can go beyond a quick look, giving agents the authority to copy or analyze a phone’s contents.

According to new figures from US Customs and Border Protection, nearly 15,000 device searches were carried out between April and June, with over 1,000 of them using advanced tools that copy or analyze what’s on a phone. The rising numbers raise questions about how much personal data travelers may be handing over without realizing it.

So what’s the solution? A burner phone. It’s the ultimate defense for keeping your personal data private when you travel, ensuring you stay connected without handing over your entire digital life at the border.

But the appeal goes beyond privacy. A stripped-down phone is also the perfect escape from the constant notifications and screen-time vortex of your primary device. Even celebrities such as Conan O’Brien have embraced simpler phones to cut through the noise. Whether you’re crossing a border or just trying to cross the street without distractions, a burner might be the smartest tech you own.

Read more: Best Prepaid Phone of 2025

Although carriers have offered prepaid phones since the ’90s, «burner phones» or «burners» became popular in the 2000s following the celebrated HBO series The Wire, where they helped characters avoid getting caught by the police. Although often portrayed in that light, burners aren’t only used by criminals; they’re also used anyone concerned with surveillance or privacy infringement.

What is a burner phone, and how does it work? Here’s everything you need to know about burners and how to get one.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

What is a burner phone?

A burner phone is a cheap prepaid phone with no commitments. It comes with a set number of prepaid call minutes, text messages or data, and it’s designed to be disposed of after use.

Burners are contract-free, and you can grab them off the counter. They’re called burner phones because you can «burn» them (trash them) after use, and the phone can’t be traced back to you, which makes them appealing to criminals. Burner phones are typically used when you need a phone quickly, without intentions of long-term use.

Burners are different from getting a regular, contract-bound cellphone plan that requires your information to be on file.

Why should you use a burner phone?

Burner phones are an easy way to avoid cellphone contracts or spam that you get on your primary phone number. Burners aren’t linked to your identity, so you can avoid being tracked down or contacted.

You don’t have to dispose of a burner phone after use. You can add more minutes and continue using it. Burner phones can still function as regular phones, minus the hassle of a contract.

You can also get a burner phone as a secondary phone for a specific purpose, like having a spare phone number for two-factor authentication texts, for business, or to avoid roaming charges while traveling. Burner phones are often used by anyone concerned with privacy.

Burner phones, prepaid phones, smartphones and burner SIMs: What’s the difference?

Burner phones are cheap phones with simple designs that lack the bells and whistles of a smartphone. Because they’re designed to be disposable, you only get the essentials, as seen by the most common version, the flip phone.

All burner phones are prepaid phones, but not all prepaid phones are burners. What sets a burner apart is that you won’t have to give away any personal information to get one, and it won’t be traceable back to you. Again, a burner phone is cheap enough to be destroyed after use.

Prepaid smartphones are generally low-end models. You can use any unlocked smartphone with prepaid SIM cards, essentially making it a prepaid phone.

If you want a burner, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new phone. You can get a burner SIM and use it with an existing phone. Burner SIMs are prepaid SIMs you can get without a contract or giving away personal information.

Where can you buy a burner phone?

Burner phones are available at all major retail outlets, including Best Buy, Target and Walmart. They’re also often available at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, local supermarkets, gas stations and retail phone outlets like Cricket and Metro.

You can get a burner phone with cash, and it should cost between $10 and $50, although it may cost more if you get more minutes and data. If you’re getting a burner phone specifically to avoid having the phone traced back to you, it makes sense to pay with cash instead of a credit card.

If you just want a prepaid secondary phone, you can use a credit card. Just keep in mind that credit cards leave a trail that leads back to you.

There are also many apps that let you get secondary phone numbers, including Google Fi and the Burner app. However, these aren’t burners necessarily because the providers typically have at least some of your personal information.

If you’re just looking to get a solid prepaid phone without anonymity, check out our full guide for the best prepaid phone plans available. We also have a guide for the best cheap phone plans.

Technologies

Chrome Autofill Now Supports Passport, Driver’s License and Vehicle Info

Soon, you’ll never need to remember anything ever again.

Computer users are accustomed to web browsers autofilling everything from names and addresses to credit card numbers. Now, Google Chrome is adding new enhanced autofill options that allow users to automatically populate fields for passports, driver’s licenses, and their vehicle’s license plate or VIN, Google said in a blog post on Monday.

Desktop users must choose to turn on the feature, which is called enhanced autofill. Otherwise, it stays off. To turn it on, open Chrome, and at the top right of your browser, select more, then settings, then autofill and passwords. Finally, choose enhanced autofill and turn it in.

Google says Chrome now can «better understand complex forms and varied formatting requirements, improving accuracy across the web.» The company also says that enhanced autofill will be «private and secure.»

This enhanced autofill update is available in all languages, and more data options will be supported in the coming months.

A representative for Google said the company had no additional comment.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Chrome is a critical component in Google’s business. The web browser, currently the most popular in the world with a 73% market share, according to GlobalStats, provides the company with valuable user data that it uses to sell advertising. Advertising is how Google makes the majority of its revenues. New features help keep users loyal to Chrome, making it more difficult for them to switch to other browsers, including those from companies like Perplexity and OpenAI.