Larian has released Hotfix 34 for Baldur’s Gate 3, which includes a native Steam Deck build and a range of crash and audio fixes, as well as several Xbox-specific stability patches. The Steam Deck build should improve framerate stability and loading times, and the update also changes where savegames live on Deck.
The new native Steam Deck build runs without the Proton compatibility layer, which reduces CPU and memory overhead, and should result in smoother performance on the device. The team also reworked model streaming across platforms to reduce framerate spikes in busy scenes such as the Lower City in Act 3.
Save locations on Steam Deck differ depending on whether the Proton or native build is in use. Before switching to the native build, saves are stored in the compatdata folder. After the native version becomes primary, saves move to a native SteamOS location. If Steam Cloud is enabled, recent saves will be automatically synced to the new folder.
Where your saves live
/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1086940/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/PlayerProfiles/Public
/home/deck/.local/share/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/PlayerProfiles/Public
If Cloud sync is disabled, a manual transfer is possible by switching to Desktop Mode on Deck and copying the Savegames folder from the compatibility data path into the native path. The developer has a step-by-step Support Portal guide covering the transition and manual transfer.
Mods and accounts
If a Larian Account is linked and connected to mod.io, subscribed mods should download when the Deck transition occurs. If not connected, mods can be copied manually from the old compatdata folder to the new native folder using Desktop Mode.
Xbox and other fixes
Hotfix 34 also targets several crashes and hangs on Xbox, including ones triggered by suspending and resuming mid-cinematic, loading certain Honour Mode saves, and a hang when exiting to the main menu from Honour Mode. Cross-play notifications and several gameplay and audio issues were fixed too.
Patch Notes – Hotfix #34
FIXES
Crashes and Performance
- Fixed a potential crash related to the Slow condition during combat.
- Fixed a potential crash related to using the Find Familiar spell on Scratch and Boo during combat.
Xbox
- Fixed a crash that could occur when suspending and then resuming the game mid-cinematic.
- Fixed a crash when loading a save while playing an Honour Mode game.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the game to hang and become unresponsive when exiting to the Main Menu from an Honour Mode game.
- Selecting View Xbox Live Profile via the Larian Friends list will now correctly show the user’s gamercard.
- Fixed a Cross-Play issue where, if one player had their cross-network privileges blocked on Xbox and was then invited to a multiplayer session by a friend, they wouldn’t get notified of the conflict in their settings telling them why they couldn’t proceed to the lobby.
- Fixed a bug where creating a new game in Honour Mode after having loaded a previous savegame would cause the game to get stuck at 33% or 83% loading.
Gameplay
- Fixed the Hound of Ill Omen and the Accursed Spectre’s HP being affected by difficulty modifiers for enemy characters.
- Fixed a bug causing the Apostle of Myrkul to regain Hit Points every time you load a savegame mid-combat in Tactician and Honour Mode.
Audio
- Fixed a bug causing the sounds that djinn summons make when they follow you to loop continuously, creating an uncharacteristic metallic thrum.
- When you’re on the ground floor of Felogyr’s Fireworks, the smokepowder explosions going off on the floor above will no longer sound like they’re happening right next to you.
- Fixed the audio levels for a rat in the Lower City that you, tragically, couldn’t hear squeak when it squoke.
- Fixed missing SFX when preparing to cast Wind Walk.
- Fixed an issue causing the SFX to play longer than they should when preparing to cast the Way of the Drunken Master’s subclass-specific actions.
- Fixed missing SFX when preparing to cast Booming Blade.
- Fixed the SFX for preparing a Starry Form continuing to play if you cast the spell quickly after selecting it.
- Fixed missing SFX when Astarion taps Woe on the ground during a cinematic.
- Fixed missing SFX in the overhead dialogue between Minthara and the questioners in Moonrise Towers Prison.
- Fixed a sound resource for Photo Mode not being generated correctly.
- Fixed the rattling Moonlantern SFX continuing to play after you unequip it.
- Recovered some missing SFX when casting Speak with Dead on the mind flayer in the Shattered Sanctum.
- Reminded Halsin to actually yell when he gains barbarian Rage instead of silently miming it.
- Fixed the SFX during Vlaakith’s appearance at camp getting cut off prematurely.
Cinematics
- Told one of the imps on the nautiloid to stop looking in the wrong direction.
- Fixed a super-mega-ultra-close-up shot during the dialogue with Raphael at Last Light.
- Removed a static pool of blood hovering mid-air in the cinematic with the gnolls on the Risen Road when playing as a short Dark Urge character.
- Fixed Karlach’s line about Gale being a hero getting cut off prematurely.
- Fixed a bug causing party members to appear as floating torsos (or simply floating hair) when talking to Ketheric’s dog, Squire.
This hotfix brings a real quality of life change for Steam Deck players and quieter performance spikes for everyone. If the new Deck build touches your setup, try the native settings first and report any oddities in the comments below. Share what you see and follow us on X and Bluesky.
Source: Steam
