Baldur’s Gate 3 fans are getting another significant upgrade thanks to a new texture mod. The mod, developed by WestAard, utilizes AI-powered upscaling techniques to better the game’s textures, providing a more realistic gaming experience. The texture pack joins a host of exciting mods for the title, including the ImpUI (improved UI) and Hair Salon, which are currently at the top of the mod charts for BG3.
The HD Texture Pack for Baldur’s Gate 3 is a substantial download though, weighing in at around 27 GB. However, we would say that the size is justified by the improvement it offers. The mod upscales in-game textures by up to 4x, transforming 1K textures into 4K. This results in a noticeable increase in detail and clarity, making the game world feel more a little bit more ‘alive’. The texture mod can be viewed on the NexusMods website.
As of writing, the mod has received 43 endorsements and over 1,300 downloads. For context, Custom Exhaustion, one of the most popular mods for BG3, has received over 30,000 downloads since its launch on September 14. We are only a day into it’s official, so it appears to be a promising star for this texture upscale mod – but only time will tell.
In addition, the mod’s creative team has included a guide in the listing to assure BG3 players that they won’t have trouble installing this mod and getting it properly running in no time. WestAard has also suggested the following mods which compliment the texture pack:
- BG3 Texture Upscale Project (this mod)
- Upscaled Armour and Clothes Textures
- Vivid Landscapes – HD Ground and Terrain Textures
- Vivid Landscapes – Roads
- Vivid Landscapes – Water
- Vivid Landscapes – Fire and Ash
It’s important to note that using these texture packs requires a powerful gaming PC. Low-end systems may struggle to maintain a smooth frame rate, especially when running the game at higher resolutions and settings. For those with high-end hardware, however, the visual improvements are well worth the investment if you can. To even achieve this level of upscaling, WestAard used a node-based upscaling program called chaiNNer. The process was long, requiring over a week of processing time – but it definitely seems to have been worth it.
What’s next
While the HD Texture Pack includes a wide range of upscaled textures, it does not cover armor and clothing. However, other models have already stepped in to address this by creating separate texture packs specifically for these elements. Combining the HD Texture Pack with these additional mods can really benefit users who want the max out of their experience.
Since its release in August, Baldur’s Gate 3 has managed to garner significant attention from critics and fans. The title also has finally received its much-awaited Patch 7 update. This major update brought with it a host of significant changes, including the introduction of official mod support – meaning we can get mods such as this one. The extensive patch notes detail numerous improvements and additions to the game. With changes coming pretty regularly, we’ll keep an eye out for any more updates.
