Baldur's Gate 3 is Adding Two Features to Bring Players Together in Patch 8

mmorpg.com:

Baldur’s Gate 3  is bringing some new features to the forefront with the next major update. Patch 8 has now entered its stress test phase on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, and with the test, worlds will collide as crossplay will take center stage as one of the highlights. In addition, the latest build brings a host of improvements and new features too.

If you've been playing Baldur's Gate 3 alone because your friends are on different platforms, you'll finally be able to set off on an adventure together! One of the biggest highlights of Patch 8 is the introduction of cross-play, so you can now take on the award winning game with your multi-platform chums. During this stress test, players across all platforms can now create or join cross-play lobbies. This means you can team up with friends regardless of whether they’re on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. In their Steam announcement they've stated that console players are encouraged to host these lobbies for smoother connectivity, while PC hosts must ensure mod compatibility by limiting installed mods to those accepted on console and Mac.

Xbox fans will also get an early taste of split-screen co-op on Xbox Series S. This feature brings local multiplayer action to your couch, the way we used to do it before that crazy internet fad took off. 

Patch 8 also introduces new gameplay improvements and fixes, with updates that range from enhanced photo mode to various bug fixes in combat, scripting, and performance. Some neat quality of life improvements have also been added, with perception check now highlighting items on the minimap, so you don't have to fumble around trying to figure out what you found and where it is. 

Patch 8 seems like a nice addition for Baldur’s Gate 3. Keep your eyes peeled for more information, and if you're interested in signing up for the stress test, you can do so here.