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

Grok Now Remembers What You Talked About, and Here’s How to Make It Stop

The chatbot’s memory is in beta and now available on Grok.com and the official iOS and Android apps.

Elon Musk’s artifical intelligence company xAI has added memory to its flagship AI known as Grok. The announcement was posted on Musk’s social media platform X on Wednesday, along with information about how the memory functions work, which is similar to other AI models. When you speak to Grok, it’ll pick up tidbits about your likes, dislikes, preferences and interests, and then use that information to tailor its responses directly to you.

Chat GPT and Google’s Gemini AI both added memory in 2024, and both can now remember conversations long-term to give you more personalized answers. In the example from xAI, the user asks Grok for a workout routine. The AI responds by mentioning that the user had previously asked about «dynamic, high-energy activities and fitness trends like jump rope and weightlifting.» Grok then makes a workout routine that incorporates those elements.

When referencing old conversations, Grok’s UI has a button that lets you see which previous conversations it references. Users can also view what Grok remembers about them and can tune that manually to make Grok forget what it learned. Grok’s new memory is available in beta on Grok.com along with the official iOS and Android apps. It is available for both free and premium Grok users.

Read more: Best AI Chatbots of 2025

How to turn the memory off

Despite being in beta, the feature is enabled by default, or at least it was when we tried it. The good news is that you can toggle Grok’s conversation history mode on and off at will. So, if you don’t want Grok to remember everything you tell it, here’s how to make it stop.

Grok.com: Tap your profile picture and then Settings. Navigate to Data Controls. The feature is «Personalize Grok with your conversation history.» Toggle it off to disable.
Android and iOS apps: Open the Settings, navigate to Data Controls. Here, the feature is «Personalize with memories.» Toggle it off to disable the feature.

In addition, users can toggle the private chat mode by using the ghost icon in the chatbox. Grok will not store the details of your conversation in private chat mode. While you are in the app’s Data Controls, you can also disable Grok from using your X history during conversations.

Technologies

Grab a Certified Refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $580 With This Woot Deal

Save over $200 by opting for a refurbished Apple Watch that includes a year of warranty from Apple.

Last year, the original Apple Watch Ultra was succeeded by the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The headline change is a new sleek black titanium option, but there are some other minor tweaks. If you’re after a high-performance smartwatch at a reduced price and don’t mind a refurbished model, there’s an excellent deal available. You can currently purchase a certified refurbished Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $580 at Woot — down from its original price of $799. Since this is an Apple Certified Refurbished unit, it includes a full 1-year warranty from Apple. However, this offer is only available while supplies last, so if you’re interested, it’s best to act quickly to secure one at this discounted rate.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is one of the best smartwatches you can buy, with CNET reviewer Lexy Savvides complimenting its «searingly bright screen and faster responses.» It originally retailed for $799, but with this deal, you receive a certified refurbished model that has undergone Apple’s rigorous refurbishment process. This includes a thorough inspection, replacement of any defective parts, and a comprehensive cleaning. The watch comes with a new battery and outer shell, ensuring it looks and functions like new. It also includes a magnetic charging cable and is packaged in a new white box. As an Apple Certified Refurbished product, it qualifies for AppleCare and comes with a standard 1-year warranty.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

If you’re comfortable with a refurbished device, this is a fantastic opportunity to own Apple’s most rugged and feature-rich smartwatch at a significant discount. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers the same 49mm titanium case as the 1st-gen, an always-on Retina display with up to 3,000 nits brightness, and advanced GPS capabilities for outdoor adventures. It offers up to 36 hours of battery life on a single charge, extendable to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. Health and safety features include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, fall and crash detection and a built-in siren for emergencies. With cellular connectivity, you can make calls, send messages and use Apple Pay directly from your wrist, even without your iPhone nearby.

Read more: Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: Rugged Watches Compared

If refurbished items aren’t your thing, be sure to check out our roundup of other Apple Watch deals currently available.

Why this deal matters

Purchasing refurbished products is an excellent way to save money without compromising on quality. Apple’s Certified Refurbished program ensures that each device meets strict standards and includes a full warranty for peace of mind. If you’ve been wanting to upgrade without paying full price, this is a deal worth taking before supplies run dry.

Technologies

Meta Removes Use of Apple Intelligence in Its Apps on iPhone

Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp and Threads no longer have access to the writing features of Apple Intelligence.

Meta is removing the option to use Apple Intelligence writing tools for four of its apps, CNET confirmed Thursday. These options were originally enabled across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, but seem to have been removed for some users.

It appears that Meta’s removal of Apple’s AI features may have begun as early as December of 2024, bringing confusion to iPhone owners who may have relied on the feature within its apps. Meta and Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

CNET senior writer Abrar Al-Heeti dug deeper. When she attempted to highlight text on Instagram to be rewritten, she saw only a «Write with AI» option, which instead of Apple Intelligence leads to a Meta AI window. On Threads and WhatsApp, she did not see the option to alter her text with AI at all.

Spotted earlier by sorcererhat, AppleInsider did a bit more digging into the Apple Developer documentation to confirm that iOS and iPadOS apps need to manually enable the feature along with the findings from the Apple Support Forums.

In a moment where artificial intelligence is everywhere and each massive tech company is building up their own solutions from the ground up to compete with each other, Meta’s decision to remove the use of Apple Intelligence writing tools may not be incredibly surprising, and certainly will not be in hindsight if a similar feature arrives on Meta’s own apps for iOS.