Pillars of Eternity Adds Turn-Based Mode for PC

Obsidian Entertainment released a major update for its 2015 role-playing game Pillars of Eternity on Thursday, introducing a long-awaited turn-based combat mode exclusively for PC players more than a decade after the title's launch.

The feature, which shifts the game's default real-time with pause battles to a tactical, step-by-step system, became available via Steam and other PC platforms following months of beta testing that began in November 2023. Players can now select turn-based mode when starting a new game or toggle it mid-playthrough through the options menu, keybindings, or a new HUD button, allowing seamless integration with existing save files. Obsidian stated in an announcement that the mode reimagines combat pacing for greater strategy, with turns determined by a character's initiative, influenced by factors such as dexterity, armor weight, and speed effects. Faster characters may act multiple times per round, while slower ones could skip turns under heavy penalties. Unlike some other computer role-playing games, the system limits players to one main action per turn, though certain moves like drinking potions, swapping weapons, or activating abilities count as free...