Obsidian Entertainment has released an optional turn-based combat mode for Pillars of Eternity more than 11 years after the game's launch. The update went live on PC on April 6, following months of testing. Players can now switch to turn-based mode at the start or during gameplay.
Obsidian Entertainment launched the turn-based combat update for Pillars of Eternity on April 6. This addition brings a fully featured alternate combat system where turns are influenced by character speed, allowing very fast characters to act twice in a round rather than once. The mode offers flexibility, enabling selection when starting a new game or toggling it in the menus mid-playthrough. The patch also includes various tweaks and fixes, along with updated Korean localisation now available across all versions of the game. This update echoes a similar change Obsidian made to Pillars of Eternity's sequel, Deadfire, back in 2019. Pillars of Eternity originally drew acclaim for reviving the style of classic role-playing games like those from the Baldur's Gate era, with reviewers noting its return to Infinity Engine-inspired gameplay. The series has continued indirectly through Avowed, a 2025 third-person action RPG set in the same world of Eora.