Summary
Whether you’re embroiled in the so-called ‘console wars’ and simply want to know if your preferred play style comes out on top, or you’re one of the lucky few boasting a PS5 and PC among your gaming options, you may be itching to know exactly howBaldur’s Gate 3is shaping up across platforms.
RELATED:Best RPGs To Play On PC
From the on-screen interface to how you move your characters through the D&D-inspired world, this critically acclaimed game features a number of subtle differences between its PC and PS5 versions. Here, we’ll detail the most significant ones that may influence how you commit to this sprawling adventure.
8Price
PC users rejoice! You’ll pay less for your digital copy of Baldur’s Gate 3 than your console peers, with the base game going for $59.99 on Steam at the time of writing. PC players can also opt to add the Digital Deluxe Edition DLC for $9.99, giving you access to a bunch of in-game cosmetics – including a snazzy custom dice skin, the digital soundtrack, and a handful of weapons, wearables, and equipment (some of which you may recognize from Divinity: Original Sin 2).
Meanwhile, PS5 players will need to shell out $69.99 for the base game and $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition. But it’s not all bad for Team Console. Gamers who opted for the DLC before launch were awarded full access to the game three whole days before its release on the 6th of September.
7Resolution
For gamers who prioritize resolution, the PC version of Baldur’s Gate 3 can deliver a considerably superior image quality (depending on the capabilities of your system) compared to the PS5’s port, assuming you have a PC strong enough, that is.
RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Multiclass
Without the tinkering options afforded PC users, console players can choose between two preset resolutions for their foray into Faerûn: Quality and Performance. The former runs at a native resolution of 1440p, upscaled to 4K for compatible output devices, while the latter runs at a lower resolution of around 1080p.
6Performance
When it comes to a smooth gaming experience in Baldur’s Gate 3, PS5 players can choose between 30fps in Quality mode (which offers better image quality at a lower framerate) or 60fps in Performance mode (which boasts a smoother experience at the expense of showcasing some of the world’s finer details). Both modes suffer from instability issues, however, with Quality mode frequently dropping below the promised 30fps and Performance mode encountering some frame pacing issues – particularly inAct 3’s more populated combat scenes.
Fortunately, for PC users with higher-spec machines, there’s a tonne of advice online to help you strike a balance between a great picture and a butter-smooth gaming experience – allowing you to enjoy every detail of Larian’s triumphant title without the jankiness seen on consoles.
Loading times in Baldur’s Gate 3 for both PS5 and PC are impressively fast, with PC taking the slightest edge over the console. Loading from the home screen menu takes 40 seconds on average for both platforms.
In-game is another story, however, with the PS5 taking approximately 40 seconds to load when traveling between regions, while the PC manages the same journey in around 10. Luckily, travel between waypoints within the same region is almost instantaneous for both console and PC.
4Interface
The HUD is one of the most significant differences between the two platforms. As the PC version of the game uses a point-and-click system for everything from inventory management to moving your party from A to B, players enjoy a more intuitive design compared to console users – with their go-to spells, attacks, and bonus actions handily laid out at the bottom of their screen for quick access.
PC users can get the same HUD used on consoles by connecting and using a controller. You can revert back to the PC HUD by using the mouse and keyboard again.
For PS5 players, on the other hand, the same information is hidden from plain sight, with access granted through a series of radial and trigger menus. While this is all fine and well in the beginning of the game, it can become overwhelming as you progress and amass more of, well –everything(cause if there’s one thing BG3 has, it’sa hell of a lotta loot).
3Controls
The controls in Baldur’s Gate 3’s PC and PS5 versions differ substantially, too. The game was designed to be played with a keyboard and mouse in line with the traditional CRPG genre, and the PC version allows for pinpoint accuracy when controlling your character and party. Thankfully, the controller enthusiasts among PC’s fan base will be glad to hear that their preferred playstyle is fully supported, too – though it might not be as intuitive to play.
RELATED:Baldur’s Gate 3: All Points Of No Return, Explained
Given that the game was built with PC players in mind, controls for the PS5 port have effectively been retooled to make its intricate systems and mechanics comfortable to play on the DualSense controller. Simple on-screen inventory management and keyboard shortcuts are swapped for radial and trigger-based menus, which can become convoluted and overwhelming as you collect abilities, items, and equipment.
2Movement
Navigating your party around Baldur’s Gate 3’s gigantic map differs between the PC and PS5 versions of the game. While PC users have the advantage of choosing between their mouse and keyboard or their favorite controller to maneuver the absorbing D&D-inspired world, console players simply have to be content with their DualSense (though this comes with its own range of exclusive perks – haptic feedback on explosions, anyone?)
On PC, moving around the map is performed using the traditional point-and-click style compared to direct control. But, depending on how you like to play, you may find using a controller (either on PC or PS5) a more immersive way to wander Faerûn.
1Physical Release
Baldur’s Gate 3 launched as a digital-only release on both PC and PS5 in August and September this year, but PS5 players will soon be able to get their hands on a physical copy of the critically acclaimed RPG – with a catch.
Japanese fans can snap up a physical copy of the game when it launches in the country later this year. But, with no other releases planned at the time of writing, PS5 players from outside Japan will have to be prepared to cough up enough to pay the heavy import fees and taxes if they want access to their very own copy.
