Larian Studios has deployed Hotfix #34 for Baldur's Gate III, and while it includes the usual array of crash fixes, the headline feature is a massive quality-of-life upgrade for handheld players. The update introduces a native Steam Deck build, officially allowing the game to run without the Proton compatibility layer.
Going Native on Steam Deck
For months, Steam Deck users have relied on Proton to translate Windows commands for the Deck's Linux-based OS. While functional, this translation layer eats up CPU and RAM resources. With Hotfix #34, Larian has released a dedicated version of the game specifically for the Deck.
The impact here is technical but significant: by removing the overhead of Proton, the Steam Deck's hardware can dedicate more power directly to the game. This should result in slightly better battery life and, more importantly, more stable framerates in resource-heavy areas.
How do I keep my saves on the new Deck version?
Transitioning to the native build isn't automatic for your save files. Because the native version uses a different directory than the Proton version, you will need to manually migrate your saves and mods. If you log in and see an empty "Load Game" screen, don't panic—your data is still there, it just needs to be moved to the new folder structure detailed in the patch notes.
Smoothing Out Act 3
Beyond the handheld news, this patch addresses one of the game's most persistent technical hurdles: the Lower City. Act 3 is dense, and performance spikes have been a common complaint since launch. This update introduces improvements to "game model streaming."
Essentially, the engine is now smarter about how and when it loads textures and models. Instead of choking the system by trying to load everything at once in busy urban environments, the optimization aims to smooth out those framerate valleys that often occur when traversing the city.
Additional Tech Upgrades
The patch also brings Intel's XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) support to the table. If you are running an Intel GPU, this upscaling tech offers a solid alternative to DLSS or FSR, allowing for higher fidelity at lower performance costs on compatible hardware.
Key Fixes in Hotfix #34:
- Xbox Stability: Addressed specific crashes that were plaguing the Series X|S versions.
- PS5 Freezing: A follow-up fix (rolled out shortly after the main patch) resolved a freezing issue related to party management.
- Visuals: Fixed texture streaming issues that caused distant objects to pop in aggressively.