Pillars of Eternity Receives Long-Awaited Update Adding Turn-Based Combat

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Pillars of Eternity, originally released in 2015, receives a long-awaited update this week, introducing a turn-based mode that RPG fans have anticipated for some time. Released last week on PC, the patch brings tweaks and fixes, focusing on the game’s strongboxes and puzzles to enhance the overall gaming experience. Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny will also be available for free on the Epic Games Store next week, so players should mark their calendars. The turn-based mode incorporates elements from its sequel, Deadfire, and increases tactical complexity. It is now live across Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and the Xbox PC App. Players can switch between the traditional real-time-with-pause system and turn-based gameplay at any time during their playthrough. For a complete list of changes, Obsidian has provided a detailed rundown on its forum. With this update, players can select the turn-based mode at the start of a new game or switch to it through the options menu. Obsidian has also included an option to revert to the original main menu art.

Enhanced Turn-Based Combat in Pillars of Eternity with Speed-Based Initiative and Bug Fixes

Instead of replicating Deadfire’s system, Obsidian revamped the initiative mechanic. Characters are no longer limited to one action per round; instead, speed—determined by dexterity and armor weight—dictates how often they can act. This allows a lightly armored rogue to potentially act multiple times before a heavily armored warrior can raise their shield. To calibrate the challenge in this more tactical mode, the update increases damage by 35%, reduces the chance to miss, and makes quick items like potions or weapon swaps free actions (limited to one per turn). In addition to these combat changes, the update addresses bugs that have been present since the original release, including a fix for the Helwax Wax Mold. The patch also corrects an issue where recovery potions increased the duration of hostile effects rather than reducing them. Pillars of Eternity is available on PC, Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, offering players a refreshed experience with its new turn-based mode.

In Case You Missed It

In the vibrant world of gaming, we’ve got a trio of exciting updates from Players For Life to share with you! First up, Carlos Mendoza has just published an insightful article on February 3rd, exploring Obsidian Entertainment’s RPG plans despite recent commercial setbacks. He dives into their reassessment strategy post-The Outer Worlds and Avowed, revealing that they’re committed to supporting The Outer Worlds 2 while focusing on reducing development time for future projects Xbox to Continue Planned 2025 RPG Despite Disappointing Sales. Meanwhile, Bruno Pferd has some thrilling news for console gamers: Avowed is hitting the PlayStation 5 on February 17th! This action RPG brings its spellbinding world and intricate combat system to Sony fans, boasting a year’s worth of improvements since its Xbox debut. Pre-orders are now open, so don’t miss your chance to dive into Obsidian’s immersive fantasy adventure Avowed: PS5 Release Date Set, Major Update Planned. Lastly, Bruno also penned a recent post about another exciting title from Obsidian – Avowed for PS5. Published on January 11, his article highlights the game’s impressive open-world exploration and anticipates its Anniversary Update with new features like “New Game Plus” mode and additional weaponry PS5: One of the Most Underestimated RPGs Nominated at The Game Awards 2025, Set to Be Even Better. There’s always something exciting happening in the world of gaming, and Players For Life has got you covered!