Obsidian Entertainment has begun rolling out a long‑requested new way to play the studio’s 2015 classic Pillars of Eternity. The turn‑based mode — developed as a 10th‑anniversary update and refined with lessons from Pillars II: Deadfire — launched in a public beta on November 5, 2025 for Steam and PC players via the Xbox app. Players can test the mode now while Obsidian collects feedback and continues to iterate.
What’s in the beta
The new turn‑based implementation keeps the spirit of Pillars while changing core combat systems to address criticisms that emerged when Deadfire added a similar mode. Design director Josh Sawyer, who introduced the beta, credited a small team led by Nick Carver and Jesse Bureno (with contributions from Kurt Decker) for the work.
Key changes players will notice:
- Unbound turns: Turn order is now influenced by each character’s speed and recovery stats, restoring value to attributes important in the real‑time with pause (RTWP) system.
- Smarter free actions: Actions such as swapping weapons, drinking potions, or toggling modals have been converted into free actions but are limited to one use per turn per type to prevent abuse.
- Faster pacing and higher lethality: Both enemies and player characters hit harder to discourage multi‑hour, drawn‑out skirmishes and keep combat tense and meaningful — a change inspired in part by popular Deadfire mods.
- Flexible mode switching: You can pick Turn‑Based Mode alongside difficulty when starting a new game, and crucially you can swap between RTWP and turn‑based at any time from the options menu. Obsidian is also exploring a direct HUD toggle for quicker switching.
Obsidian has not specified how long the public beta will run, saying only that it will remain available “for some time” while they roll out updates and prepare a full release.
How to join (PC only)
Xbox Insiders on Windows PC can join the public beta through the Xbox Insider Hub. Participation requires ownership of Pillars of Eternity or access via Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft’s Xbox Wire post provides step‑by‑step joining instructions and notes on reverting to the public build if you want to leave the playtest: Xbox Wire — Join the Pillars of Eternity Public Beta Today.
Steam players should be able to opt in through the usual Steam beta channels; Obsidian indicated the beta will be available on both storefronts. At launch the test is limited to PC — no console timing has been announced.
Why Obsidian reworked the system
Turn‑based combat was popular when it debuted in Deadfire, but developers and players flagged balance and pacing issues. Some builds were noticeably weakened or strengthened by the change, and the original Deadfire implementation locked players into one combat system at character creation, forcing difficult choices.
Obsidian’s newest iteration aims to avoid those pitfalls by letting players change modes mid‑game and by reworking the action economy so that both RTWP and turn‑based approaches remain meaningful. Josh Sawyer acknowledged the team’s goal to learn from Deadfire’s “very reasonable criticisms” and better align the mode with player expectations.
Reaction and implications
Early coverage and commentary have been broadly positive about Obsidian’s approach. Outlets and CRPG‑focused commentators note that the ability to switch between modes removes the heavy commitment Deadfire required and could prevent the jarring balance shifts that frustrated players there. PC‑centric outlets also welcomed the emphasis on quicker, deadlier encounters, which many see as essential for keeping turns engaging without stretching battles into endurance tests.
At the same time, some players may be wary: increased lethality and the revised action economy could reshape long‑standing build strategies, and how those changes play out across higher difficulties will be a focus of beta feedback. Obsidian’s decision to iterate in public — and to limit the test to PC initially — lets the studio refine balance before potentially wider releases.
What to expect next
Obsidian has left the beta window open‑ended while it polishes the mode. Expect frequent updates driven by bug reports and balance suggestions from the community. If the public beta goes well, the turn‑based mode will roll into a final update for Pillars of Eternity; the studio hasn’t announced cross‑platform timing or console plans beyond the PC beta.
For longtime fans, the update represents a significant reimagining of how the classic game can be played a decade after launch. For newcomers, the ability to toggle between RTWP and turn‑based makes Pillars an appealing entry point regardless of which combat style they prefer.
Whether this iteration will become the definitive way to experience Pillars remains to be seen, but Obsidian’s willingness to revisit and refine the title signals continued support for its CRPG legacy.