This week, Larian Studios will reveal Baldur’s Gate 3’s fifth major patch and new features for PS5. This update will fix slowdown from the previous patch and Astarion kissing scenes. A list of changes and tweaks will be released soon.

A follow-up tweet from the Belgian developer teases a community update this week that will discuss “some new features” for the game. Since launch, updates have focused on bug fixes and improvements, with only a camp mirror for changing your appearance. As a GOG achievement suggests, a permadeath mode may be added.

Are there any features you hope Baldur’s Gate 3 will get?

Last year, Sonic the Hedgehog and Genshin Impact fans fought for the Players’ Voice award at The Game Awards. This fan-voted battle between some of the biggest games on Earth features multiple knockout rounds. The first phase is live!

The initial pool of 30 titles includes 2023’s biggest hits and those with meaningful updates. Choose ten favorites on the ceremony’s website:

• Alan Wake 2
• Apex Legends
• Armored Core VI
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Counter-Strike 2
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Destiny 2
• Diablo IV
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact
• GTA Online
• Hi-Fi Rush
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Honkai: Star Rail
• League of Legends
• Lies of P
• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
• Minecraft
• Mortal Kombat 1
• No Man’s Sky
• Octopath Traveler II
• Resident Evil 4
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
• Starfield
• Street Fighter 6
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Valorant
• Warframe

Gacha games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail have an advantage because HoYoverse can entice fans to vote by promising free in-game currency to spend on pulls. Baldur’s Gate 3 is leading this initial voting phase, which is typical of holiday Best Of lists.

World premiere. You heard The Game Awards’ now-iconic voiceover artist say those two words, right? Host Geoff Keighley says you won’t hear it this year because the organizer has tried to unify all announcements. Thus, it wants world-first trailers alongside deep dives, first looks, etc.

“You’ll see this year, we often put up those cards, ‘world premiere, world premiere’,” he told fans in a livestreamed Q&A. “We’re moving away from that because everything’s ‘is it a first look? An announcement? We consider it all great game content.”

We think this means fewer blockbuster moments, but Keighley denies it. He added, “I don’t know if there will be the same number of world premieres as last year. “Honestly, I haven’t counted. I think similarly but don’t know. I won’t quote a number because it’ll go viral. The show’s length and content are likely similar to previous years.

Keighley said he tried to shorten the show last year, but Chris Judge’s epic God of War Ragnarok acceptance speech extended it. He said, “It’s probably going to be similar to last year with a little bit shorter show.” The Game Awards have been criticized for being too long, but this isn’t a bad thing.

When are the Game Awards? We have a guide for your time zone. The nominees are out, and voting is live, so pick your favorites before it’s too late.