Creating a Multiplayer Game
You can either create a new game that is multiplayer enabled from the beginning, or enable multiplayer in an existing single player game.
You have the same Difficulty options as single player, as well as four multiplayer specific options.
Options for multiplayer:
- Number of Slots - How many total players may join your game. Default 4.
- Online Visibility - Who can see your game in the multiplayer browser. Default 'Friends Only' (despite Closed being noted as default).
- LAN Connections - Whether to accept connections from other machines on your same network. Default unchecked.
- Direct Connections - Generates a randomized code that another player can enter to join your game. Default unchecked.
Session Manager
To modify the multiplayer settings of your game after creation, go to the Menu and then select Session. In the Session menu you can assign players to certain characters, as well as assign companions to be controlled by a player. By clicking the gear icon at the top of the screen, you can modify your multiplayer settings. Returning to the Main Menu or restarting the game will reset these settings back to the defaults; the settings do not persist via saved games.
Joining a New Game
You will be prompted to create a character, just like in single player, and as long as you are connected to the game, this character will be a mandatory character in the party. As long as players are connected to the game, player generated characters may not be left at camp (such as to switch them out for companions.) However, offline players' characters may be dismissed to Withers' Wardrobe of Wayward Friends via dialogue.
While Origin Characters may be selected by any player during initial game creation, players who join after the game is started may only create a custom character.
Preventing Others from Joining Your Game
By default, Baldur’s Gate 3 sets your Session status to “Friends Only” (despite Closed being noted as the Default). This setting changes back to “Friends Only” each time you go back to the Main Menu. To prevent others from joining your game, set your Online Visibility in the Session menu to Closed every time you go back to the Main Menu or restart the game.
Loading a Multiplayer Game
To load a multiplayer game that was already started, load the game just like in single player. The client will automatically make the session a multiplayer session using Friends Only setting without LAN or Direct Connections. NOTE: The game will do this by default for single player games as well as of August 10th, 2023.
Companions in Multiplayer
Companions are only controlled by one player at a time. In order to reassign which character is controlled by which player, go to the menu and then click Session. Here you can reassign characters to different players. Offline players' characters can be sent to camp via dialog, where they will be stored in Withers' Wardrobe of Wayward Friends.
Converting a Single Player Game to Multiplayer
While playing in single player, open the menu and click on Session. Set your 'Online Visibility' to the appropriate setting for the type of players you want to join.