Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3split-screen co-op still needs some major improvements that will hopefully be implemented in future updates. In a day and age when many AAA games completely ignore split-screen co-op, it’s greatly appreciated thatBaldur’s Gate 3gives players the chance to experience the entire game in split-screen, even if it is sometimes rough around the edges.
WhileBaldur’s Gate 3can be played solo, it can also be played by four players online or two players split-screen. Co-op partners are able to create their own custom character or take control ofexistingBaldur’s Gate 3companions, free to complete quests, interact with NPCs, engage in fights, and do literally anything that the host player can do. It’s great thatBaldur’s Gate 3doesn’t treat co-op partners like second-class citizens like other games have been known to do, but there are still some issues with the split-screen co-op that need fixed.
The big thing is thatBaldur’s Gate 3split-screen co-op seems to trigger more frequent crashes in Act 3, but there are other inconveniences associated withBG3split-screen co-op that need fixed as well. MoreBaldur’s Gate 3updatesare in the works, but it’s unclear if they will fix these split-screen co-op issues or if fans will have to be satisfied with how the feature works now.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Act 3 Crashing
Baldur’s Gate 3Act 3has been somewhat of a sore spot for players ever since the game originally launched. While there are those who play through the entire game without running into any kind of serious technical problem, there are also many who have taken online to complain about frequent crashing in Act 3. This problem is not split-screen specific, but in my experience, Act 3 crashing does seem to happen more frequently when playing in split-screen.
Just recently,I wrote about howBaldur’s Gate 3kept crashing in Act 3when at least one character was in Elfsong Tavern. This happened multiple times in a row, and the only way to fix it was to play the game in single-player until there was no longer a need to go into Elfsong Tavern. The crashing issues went away for a bit, but they still rear their ugly head from time to time, like at the end of big, drawn-out fights.
Losing large chunks of playtime to crashes is incredibly frustrating, and itseemsto happen a lot more frequently while playing in split-screen co-op. It’s possible that it’s just a coincidence thatBaldur’s Gate 3crashes more for me in split-screen, but either way, Act 3 crashing is a problem that still needs to be addressed.
BG3 Co-Op Objectives Disappear
Baldur’s Gate 3gives co-op players an incredible amount of freedom. While players have to stay within the same general zone, they are otherwise free to go wherever they want. This includes entering buildings and delving into caves that trigger a load screen and therefore have their own maps. Unfortunately, whenever players do this, the objective markers completely disappear from their maps.
For example, oneBaldur’s Gate 3player could beexploring the Lower City, making their way from one objective marker to the next, while their partner decides to go into a basement that triggers a loading screen. The Lower City objective markers will completely disappear, and so the player still exploring the town has to wander aimlessly and hope they stumble on where they’re supposed to go. The objective markers come back once players are in the same zone again, but this is still a frustrating oversight that can hamper the split-screen co-op experience inBaldur’s Gate 3.
BG3 Names in Top Left Corner Won’t Go Away
There are even more problems tied to theBaldur’s Gate 3map in split-screen co-op beyond objective markers disappearing. One particularly annoying quirk about split-screen is thatplayers' gamertags stick to the top-left corner of the screenwith no way of turning them off at the time of this writing. Since one is likely sitting right next to the person they’re playing with when playing split-screen, there is really no reason why the names need to be on the screen at all, let alone blocking the mini-map for the first player. The names make the mini-map effectively unusable for player 1, and so they instead have to rely on the mini-map for player 2, or otherwise open their full map a lot more than they would have to do if the names were simply removed.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Co-Op Achievements Not Unlocking
DespiteBaldur’s Gate 3split-screen co-op letting the second player sign in with their own account, that second player is completely unable to unlock achievements in the game.Baldur’s Gate 3achievementsare restricted to player 1, which would be fine, except it seems as though the second player can actually lock player 1 out of unlocking certain achievements. Without delving into spoilers, in my playthrough, player 2 romanced a certainBaldur’s Gate 3character who has a romance achievement tied to them. The achievement did not unlock, which means another playthrough of making the same choice will be necessary to unlock all the game’s achievements. CertainBaldur’s Gate 3achievements not unlocking in co-op wouldn’t be nearly as annoying if the second player was at least earning the achievements, but they do not.
Baldur’s Gate 3is an award-winning gameand deserves the high praise it’s received, but there is still certainly room for improvement, especially when it comes to the game’s split-screen co-op. Here’s hoping futureBaldur’s Gate 3updates address these issues and make an already all-time great game even better.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
